UN Launches Early Marriage Campaign in Ethiopia

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) on Tuesday launched a nationwide early marriage campaign in Ethiopia where girls at the age of seven are still forced to marry.

The nationwide campaign is aimed at fighting early marriage problem in Ethiopia, which is one of the serious health problems and contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS among teenagers.

According to UNFPA Ethiopian office, while the practice has decreased globally over the last 30 years, it remains common in rural areas and among the poorest in countries like Ethiopia.

“Impoverished parents often believe that child marriage will protect their daughters. In fact, however, it results in lost development opportunities, limited life options and poor health,” said Dr. Monique Rakotomalala, UNFPA Representative to Ethiopia.

Child marriage has been regarded as a health issue as well as a human rights violation for the past many decades but the problem is still being practiced in many African countries, mainly in the West and Sub Sahara African countries.

Source African Press Agency

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