‘I was handed to a complete stranger’: the survivors fighting to end child marriage in 37 US states – and the people who want to keep it legal
The country has seen hundreds of thousands of child marriages since 2000. As activists push for new laws, an unlikely cohort stands in their way
April 2024
Rights and freedom
Married at 10, abused and forced to flee without her children: an Afghan woman on life under the Taliban
Now living in comparative freedom in Iran, 26-year-old Mahtab Eftekhar describes facing motherhood at 12 and explains why seeking justice for other women means she no longer fears death
October 2023
Climate crisis is ‘not gender neutral’: UN calls for more policy focus on women
Only a third of countries with climate crisis plans include access to sexual, maternal and newborn health services, UNFPA report finds
September 2023
Weatherwatch
Extreme weather events linked to increased child and forced marriages
Researchers say families under stress unable to support daughters and look to marry them off
May 2023
Child marriage in decline – but will take 300 years to eliminate
UN children’s agency welcomes drop in number of underage brides, but warns 12 million girls still getting married each year
February 2023
Campaigners hail law raising age of marriage to 18 in England and Wales
It is illegal for 16- and 17-year-olds to marry or enter a civil partnership, even with parental consent
September 2022
Horn of Africa drought puts 3.6m children at risk of dropping out of school
Experts warn that girls’ education will be worst hit, as many families are forced to move away from schools
June 2022
Culinary kudos: the trailblazing chef showcasing rural west Africa’s cuisine
Fatmata Binta grew up in a Fulani community and brought her nomadic food culture to a wider audience. Now she has become the first African to win the Basque culinary world prize
April 2022
Ethiopian drought leading to ‘dramatic’ increase in child marriage, Unicef warns
With hunger across Horn of Africa and 600,000 children out of school, ‘desperate’ parents push more girls into early marriage
November 2021
Women bore brunt of social and economic impacts of Covid – Red Cross
In 82% of countries surveyed, women were disproportionately hit, from loss of income to caring duties, report shows
England and Wales ‘one step closer to ending child marriage’ after MP vote
Second reading of bill to ban marriage for under-18s receives cross-party support
Rights and freedom
Parliament to vote on bill to ban child marriage in England and Wales
Marriage of under-18s associated with risk of domestic, sexual and ‘honour’-based violence, say MPs, who will vote on Friday
October 2021
Day of the Girl is critical, but support is needed year-round, say campaigners
From period poverty to blockchain, initiatives raising awareness of girls’ rights abound on 11 October, but long-term help is needed after Covid setbacks
August 2021
Rights and freedom
‘I’m one of them’: the FGM survivor providing a lifeline in Leeds
Zimbabwean man charged with rape after girl, 15, dies giving birth
North Carolina is a destination for child marriage. A new bill could change that
UN condemns child marriage in Zimbabwe as girl dies after giving birth
July 2021
Opinion
Aid cuts make a mockery of UK pledges on girls’ education
Zoe Williams
‘We can do anything’: the Indian girls’ movement fighting child marriage
June 2021
Rights and freedom
Pauline Latham MP picks up bill to end child marriage in England and Wales
MP to take over private member’s bill proposed by Sajid Javid to raise legal age to 18, after his promotion to health secretary
Rights and freedomMarried at 10, abused and forced to flee without her children: an Afghan woman on life under the TalibanNow living in comparative freedom in Iran, 26-year-old Mahtab Eftekhar describes facing motherhood at 12 and explains why seeking justice for other women means she no longer fears death
