Forced child marriages

In 2010, more than 60 million women between the ages of 20 and 24 all over the world were married before they turned 18, generally obliged to do so by their fathers and mothers and normally to men much older than them, with absolutely no say in the matter.

Not only do forced child marriages represent a health risk for the girls, they also violate their fundamental rights, not to mention their sexual and reproductive rights given their scant or non-existent autonomy of decision with regard to their bodies and lives. In many poor countries, the leading causes of death among adolescent women are complications during pregnancy and childbirth. For girls aged 14 and under, their probability of dying at childbirth is five times greater than it is for those aged 20 to 24.

But these practices are also a reality in Europe, even if not openly spoken about. The laws and regulations that establish the legal framework for fighting against these practices in European countries differ greatly. Germany considers forced marriage to be a crime, punishable by prison. In others, like Sweden or Spain, it is not even mentioned as an offense in today’s Penal Code.

Film: Night of Silence

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  • San Sebastián Donostia 2016
  • Construyendo San Sebastián
  • Donostiako Udala. Ayuntamiento de San Sebastián
  • donostiakultura.com. San Sebastián: ciudad de la cultura
  • AIETE: Casa de la Paz y los Derechos Humanos