115 million boys became bridegrooms as children

WeddingWedding

About 115 million men and boys were married when they were children, many of them before reaching the age of 15 showed a UNICEF report.

Statistics from 82 countries show that the problem is most prevalent in poor countries according to the report.

The Central African Republic has the highest incidence of child marriage among boys, with 28% of men reportedly being married as children. Nicaragua and Madagascar followed closely.

‘’Child grooms and brides are forced to take adult responsibility as they are not necessarily ready. Early marriage creates early paternity and increased pressure to feed the family, affecting education and job opportunities’’ said UNICEF leader Henrietta Fore.

Child marriage, however, affects girls to a greater extent than boys. One in five young women between the ages of 20 and 24 were married before the age of 18, while only one in 30 young men had the same experience. UNICEF estimates that 765 million people have been married as children around the world.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today

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