Fights for girls’ rights

“My big sister was forced to quit school and get married at the age of 14, and she’s already a mother, so I know how important it is to fight for girls’ rights,” says Chobi, 13, who is a member of the Young Women’s Rights Association.

I think the same thing was planned for me, but mum and dad changed their minds after the boat school and Young Women’s

Rights Association started informing people about the problems with child marriage. But I feel sorry for my sister, who didn’t get the same

Life for girls in Bangladesh

• More than half of all girls, that’s 38 million, are married off before the age of 18, and one in five, 13 million, before the age of 15.

• 5 of 10 girls who are married off at a young age have given birth to their first child before the age of 18.

• Girls who are married off are subjected to a lot of violence, including sexual violence. But a majority of the population do not regard child marriage as sexual violence towards girls.

• More than twice as many girls as boys quit school in years 6 and 7 (aged 12–14).

• It is four times more common for a married girl not to go to school than an unmarried girl.

• Five million women and girls have died as a result of discrimination, in the form of less food, medical treatment and care than boys, as well as from abortions of female fetuses.

opportunities as me. It’s to protect other girls from ending up in the same situation as her that I’m a member of the association.

“We meet about three times a month and learn about girls’ rights. And we support and protect one another. Being part of the group means we feel stronger together. We dare to say what we think. It’s really important, because we talk to our families, neighbours, children and young people, older people…in fact everyone in the local villages!”

More starting to understand

“We tell people that child marriage is prohibited, and that all girls must go to school instead, just like boys. We

There are 15 girls aged between 13 and 19 in Chobi’s association. She and some of the others still go to boat school, while others have started high school or go to Rezwan’s training school. The Young Women’s Rights Association helps them stay in contact and continue supporting one another. An adult woman from the boat school leads the meetings. There are Young Women’s Rights Associations in all the villages visited by the boat schools.

Chobi’s important checklist for girls

According to Chobi, it’s important for a girl to go to school because: also explain that a young girl isn’t ready to have children at an early age, because she’s still a child herself. That there’s a high risk that both mother and baby will die.

• She learns important things.

• She makes friends.

• She gets to play and enjoy free time.

• She can get a job and have a better future.

“I actually think they’re listening to us, because child marriage is nowhere near as common here anymore. My family treats me well, and it’s the same for most girls in this region now. More people are starting to understand that boys and girls have the same rights.

“My dream for the future is to own my own land and grow food on it. I’d also like to keep some goats and ducks, and live a peaceful life. I’d be happy with that.” c