Climate change and socio-economic insecurity are major child marriage factors

BRAC Centre Auditorium organised an experience sharing meeting on Monday, 25th March, where many observations came forwards that reflected the reasons behind child marriage. One of the many driving factors behind child marriage is climate change, as communities who are affected by river erosions become vulnerable. Speakers mentioned that in spite of various made, families look for other ways in which they can marry off their daughters. These ways include forging birth certificates, taking their daughters to other areas to get them married, and also carrying out the marriage ceremony in moving vehicles like auto-rickshaws, rickshaws and boats.

The event was organized to reflect the experience of projects implemented in Barisal and Rangpur districts by the “Girls Not Brides” platform. The objective of the project, implemented between July 2016 and July 2018, was to help prevent child marriage by empowering adolescent girls with reproductive health education. Led by Brac, member organizations of the “Girls Not Brides” platform were actively involved in implementing the project.

Bangladesh Coordinator for the Girls Not Brides platform, and Brac Director, Anna Minz, television channel News24 Chief News Editor, Shahnaz Munni, former captain of the national women’s cricket team, Salma Khatun, Brac Coordinator for gender, justice, and diversity, Nishat Sultana, and representatives of the member organizations of Girls Not Brides were present at the meeting.

Source: Dhaka Tribune