Although there has been a slight fall in the rate of child marriage
in Mozambique, campaigners say population growth means the number of
child brides has increased.
Mozambique launches national plan to end child marriage(Girls Not Bride)
Mozambique,
which has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world,
unveiled a national plan on Monday to end the practice which affects
nearly half of the country's girls.
"(This is) a cause for celebration, and should inspire our African neighbours to do the same," said Albino Francisco, coordinator of Girls Not Brides Mozambique which helped the government draw up the strategy.
Although
there has been a slight fall in the rate of child marriage in
Mozambique, campaigners say population growth means the number of child
brides has increased.
Mozambique has the world's
tenth highest rate of child marriage - with 48 percent of girls wed by
their 18th birthday, and 14 percent before they turn 15, according to
U.N. children's fund UNICEF.
The
national strategy outlines eight pillars key to ending child marriage
including an awareness drive, improving girls' access to education,
sexual and reproductive health services, sex education and legal
reforms, according to Girls Not Brides.
Early
marriage not only deprives girls of education and opportunities but
increases the risk of death or serious childbirth injuries if they have
babies before their bodies are ready.
Child brides are often disempowered and at greater risk of domestic and sexual violence and HIV, experts say.
Mozambican news site Noticias, which reported the launch, described child marriage as "a social evil".
The reasons behind child marriage vary across the country but the common factors are poverty and lack of education.
In
some areas, campaigners say girls as young as nine go through
initiation rites where they learn how to please a man in bed and perform
domestic duties as part of preparations for marriage.
Worldwide, 15 million girls are married off as children every year
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