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Girls in Burkina Faso forced out of school and into early marriage

Girls' education

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Young women at a refuge in Burkina Faso which helps illiterate victims of forced marriage听

Thousands of girls in Burkina Faso are being robbed of their childhood and their education by early and forced marriage, says a new human rights report.

Amnesty International says many girls and young women are beaten or threatened if they try to make their own decisions about when to get married and have children.

国产视频淔ar too many women and girls in Burkina Faso have no control over their lives,国产视频 said Alioune Tine, Amnesty International国产视频檚 Regional Director for West and Central Africa.

国产视频淥nce married, girls are expected to have children as soon as possible. Early pregnancies greatly increase the risk of girls dying or experiencing life-changing physical injuries.

国产视频淰ery few have the chance to go to school or complete their education.国产视频

The law in Burkina Faso says girls should not marry before the age of 17. But more than half of girls aged 15 to 17 in the country's Sahel region are married.

Maria, a 15-year-old interviewed by the human rights organisation, was one of six children whose father had four wives.

She said: 国产视频淚 never got to finish attending even the first year of primary school. I don国产视频檛 know why my parents took me out of school.

国产视频淚 had to spend my days helping out with household tasks. My dad married me to a 70-year-old man who already has five wives.

国产视频淢y dad threatened me, saying, 国产视频業f you don国产视频檛 go to join your husband I will kill you.国产视频 I spent three days with my other co-wives at the house, then I fled. I walked for three days to get to the centre for young girls.国产视频

Statistics from the United Nations children's agency UNICEF show the percentage of girls attending both primary and secondary level education is very low. Only 17.1% of girls, compared with 21.4% of boys, actively attend secondary school.

Amnesty International's report 国产视频 Coerced and denied: Forced marriages and barriers to contraception in Burkina Faso 国产视频 said there are many reasons for this, including families being unable to afford school fees.

The report adds: 国产视频淧arents frequently choose not to send their daughters to school because they do not see it as useful or necessary given that girls are expected to be married early, have household duties and produce children while they are still in their teens.国产视频

One 16-year-old girl said that when she asked her parents if she could go to school, they said: 国产视频淲hat is the point in sending you to school? There is no benefit from girls being educated.国产视频

The girl refused to get married and has been banished by her family. And she has never been to school.

Amnesty International said cultural pressures means the vast majority of girls forced into marriage are expected to immediately give up school to look after the house, have children and attend to their husband国产视频檚 needs.

Women in Burkina Faso have an average of six children. Official figures show that听less than 16% of women use a modern method of contraception, dramatically increasing the risk of unwanted and sometimes high-risk pregnancies.

Almost 30% of girls aged 15 to 19 in rural areas are pregnant or have had their first baby 国产视频 despite the fact they are twice as likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth as those over 20.

Amnesty International's report makes a series of recommendations, including:

  • Setting the minimum age of marriage for both girls and boys at 18
  • Making it a criminal offence to use violence, threats or coercion to force someone to get married
  • Responding effectively to violence against girls and women by partners or family members 国产视频 including forced or early marriage

Change is imperative if life is to change for girls in Burkina Faso like 15-year-old Celine.

She said: 国产视频淚 fled on my wedding day. I went to the police station. My father wanted me to marry the herder who kept my father国产视频檚 cows. He wanted to reward him for his services. The man was quite young but he already had a wife.听

国产视频淚 want to resume my studies now and become a teacher. My favourite subjects are history and geography.国产视频

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