KABUL: The United Nations has stated that a girl is married off every three seconds somewhere in the world, a violation of the human rights of underage girls. The organization wrote on its X page that child marriage is a human rights violation that deprives girls of the opportunity to realize their “full potential and capacities.” The UN further added: “On Valentine’s Day, join the UN Population Fund in raising your voice against such gender-based violence.” This comes at a time when child marriage has become prevalent in Afghanistan, where it is not only tolerated in many areas but also accepted as a social norm. Reports indicate that economic poverty is a significant driver of such marriages, with some families forcing their young daughters into marriage in exchange for money. The UN has consistently emphasized that child and forced marriages can have serious consequences for girls’ health, limit their access to education, and expose them to numerous other challenges such as domestic violence and early pregnancy.
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