British actress Emma Watson
condemned child marriage during a visit to Malawi on Monday, calling on
authorities across Africa to end the practice that can put young lives
as risk as well as stopping girls get an education and a better future.Watson, 26, a goodwill ambassador for UN Women, was visiting the
southeastern African nation a day ahead of the International Day of the
Girl Child.In 2015, Malawi passed a law to raise the minimum age
of marriage to 18 with UN Women working with traditional chiefs to
change local practices.
“Meeting with young girls, who like many
in their country, are struggling with poverty and were pressured into
early marriage … made me realize just how important it is for women to
be able to make their own choices,” Watson said in a statement.
“It’s so encouraging to see how such a harmful practice can be stopped
when communities work together,” added the actress who rose to fame as
Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series.U.N. data shows that
globally, one-third of girls in developing countries, excluding China,
are married before the age of 18, denying them their childhood and right
to go to school.Even though Malawi has now made child marriage
illegal, campaigners have voiced concerns that marriages regulated by
custom can occur informally.During her visit, Watson met with
traditional leaders who have championed the annulment of child marriages
in their communities.Worldwide, 15 million girls are married as children every year, according to UK-based campaign group Girls Not Brides.Campaigners say child marriage deprives girls of an education,
increases the risk of domestic violence, death or serious injuries if
they have children before their bodies are ready.Yet the
practice persists because some societies view girls as a financial
burden while others believe a girl should marry as early as possible to
maximize her fertility.In July, Gambia became the 13th nation in
Africa to join the African Union’s campaign to end child marriage,
which aims to raise awareness of the risks of the practice.The International Day of the Girl Child, on Oct. 11, is a day declared by the United Nations to promote girls’ human rights. —
