MOGADISHU (SOMALIA) – Hafsa was married off by her father at the age of 13 to a man who paid $100. She, along with her mother say that the young girl was beaten and raped for two years before her husband was convinced to divorce her.
She said, “The man just slept with me, beating me always. I regretted I was born.”
A bill introduced in parliament this month by a presidential ally has been widely criticised by lawmakers after it was found that marriage at puberty, which could be as early as 10 for some girls, could be legalised.
According to data from a government survey this year, nearly a third of girls are married even before they 18th birthday – just under half of those before the age of 15.Â
Dheepa Pandian, a spokeswoman from UNICEF, the United Nations’ Children’s Fund, “Some families marry off their daughters to reduce their economic burden or earn income. Others may do so because they believe it will secure their daughters’ futures or protect them.”
Legislator and human rights activist Sahra Omar Malin, rejects the bill, saying, “Our constitution is based on Islam. It says the age of maturity is 18, this is the right age for voting or for a girl to marry.”
Nadifa Hussein, who runs three camps for families trying to evade violence and provides refuge to the abused and child brides who were abandoned.
Hussein said, “Most women here were married at 13 and are divorced by the time they are 20. They have no one to feed them.”
Sirad is a 16-year-old with two children. Her husband has disowned him. However, if he comes back she must accept him, she said.
She asked, “Who else wants me? If you are thrown into a well and can’t come out, the only option is to try to swim.”
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.
