WUNRN
EGYPT - POTENTIAL LAW TO LOWER
MARRIAGE AGE FOR GIRLS - RISKS
Early marriage often deprives
girls of their right to an education
3 May 2012: Plan is deeply
concerned at new proposals by the Egyptian parliament to reduce the legal age
for girls to marry to 14 – just 4 years after a successful campaign increased
the age limit to 18.
Early marriage can have a
devastating impact on girls’ lives – they are more likely to be forced out of
school, live in poverty, have early pregnancies and endure health complications
or die during childbirth.
Ayman Zadek, Plan’s programme
area manager in
“Despite the improvements on the
law, early marriage is still a widespread social phenomenon in
If
“Exposing young girls to marriage
has a very negative impact on their physical and psychological health. It
reduces their chances to complete an education and negatively impacts their
ability to participate at the economic and social levels," adds Zadek.
“Plan
Ending child marriage around the world is a main priority of Plan’s Because I am a Girl campaign, which will be launched globally on 11 October - the first International Day of the Girl Child.