End Child Marriage in Africa

Together, we can protect the rights, dreams and futures of young girls across Africa.

Ini’s mother started pimping her to men at the age of 12. Her mother equally forced her into a relationship with an older man at the age of 15. Ini started praying for the fruit of the womb at the age of 15… she spent her teenage hood praying to get pregnant because everyone called her barren. Ini, who should have been in school was referred to as a ‘barren woman’ at the age of 15. It is unfortunate that in this day and age, the issue of Girl Child Marriage is still reoccurring. Everyday in parts of Africa, young girls are forced into marriages before they are even old enough to understand what marriage means. Their voices are silenced, their education cut short, and their futures stolen. They are forced into becoming wives and mothers even before they reach adulthood. What makes this issue more sad is that, their parents who are supposed to serve as guardians, are the real perpetrators of this heartlessness. Betrothing and giving out your innocent GIRL child in marriage to a man old enough to be her FATHER or GRANDFATHER is sickening. The excuse for this wickedness is ‘poverty’ but is giving out your girl child in marriage to an old man the solution to poverty??? The girl child should be in school. She should get educated. Get empowered. Gain skills. She should be learning, dreaming and allowed to be a child. She should not have to worry about being a wife or mother when she is still a child. By signing this petition, you are joining a movement that says NO to girl child marriage. By signing this petition, you are joining a movement that says NO to stolen childhoods. By signing this petition, you are joining in fighting for the girl child who has been placed as a bait for this evil disguised as culture. I urge you to sign this petition because a new generation cannot rise when its girls are denied the chance to grow.