End Child Marriage – 11 is too young to be a bride

Help Plan International end child marriage. In Niger, 40% of girls are married before they are 15 years old. Girls as young as 11 are being married and their young bodies are not ready for the demands of married life.

Too many girls are married young. Australia needs to lead the global community and make it clear that we stand for equal rights for boys and girls. Ask our Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, to stand by our commitment to girls to ending harmful practices like child marriage by using Australian aid to help girls can stay in school and reach their full potential.

Child brides often get pregnant soon after being married and this can lead to devastating health implications. Sadly some young girls are in labour for days and find out too late that they are unable to give birth to their beloved baby, resulting in stillbirth.

The hospitals in Niger are full of young girls that have suffered this horrible loss. And their pain doesn't end there — their young bodies have been ripped apart and without the money for corrective surgery, some will go through life with permanent damage, like the inability to control their bladder.

It is not ok to marry a girl at 11. Sign this petition and demand that girls' rights be upheld in Niger.