Unicef, one in five girls in the world is married before the age of 18

Around the world, approximately one in five girls is married off before turning 18. There are approximately 650 million women and girls alive today who have contracted early marriages. Every year more than 12 million girls - about one every three seconds - are married off before reaching the age of majority, with the highest rate in sub-Saharan Africa (31%). This is stated by Unicef ​​Italy which on the occasion of the Day of Girls and Young Women relaunches the 'Don't stay silent' campaign with the focus on preventing stereotypes.

Early marriage, UNICEF underlines, remains one of the most widespread violations of the rights of girls, denying millions of them the opportunity to go to school, protect their health, live free from violence and be able to develop their potential. Child marriage can have serious and lasting consequences for the life, physical and mental health of girls, increasing risks of social isolation, anxiety and emotional distress at a time when self-harm is a leading cause of death for adolescent girls aged 15-19 globally.

However, thanks to investments in girls' education, legislative reforms and social protection, around 68 million child marriages have been avoided over the last 25 years, demonstrating that progress is possible when girls are supported and their rights protected. Among the solutions identified by Unicef; ensure that girls continue to attend school; expand access to health, protection and social services; work with families and communities to challenge harmful norms; invest in girls' rights and support their leadership.

As part of the "Do not remain silent" campaign, dedicated to combating gender violence, with a focus on adolescent girls, Unicef ​​Italy promotes, with a new visual, an education that questions stereotypes, which undermines imposed roles, towards the full realization of children, girls and boys in Italy and around the world. "Violence can be prevented before it happens - underlines the president of Unicef ​​Italy Nicola Graziano -: by educating girls and boys to recognize stereotypes, respect the autonomy of others and build relationships based on freedom, consensus and reciprocity. What girls and boys learn today contributes to building the relationships of tomorrow. We need to promote knowledge and permanent awareness on the issues of affectivity and relationship education in school and extracurricular contexts".