Introduction
Different institutions have emerged in the modern world to empower women to achieve their potential and ensure they enjoy the same status as men. Such organizations as Girls Not Bride are global corporations that protect girls’ rights, such as defense against child marriage. Child marriage is forced matrimony, whereby both parties lack full and free consent. In most cases, it results from inequality and the belief that girls are inferior to boys. The organization has multiple civil societies in several countries committed to ending early marriage. Girls Not Bride was formed in 2011 by some elders who were working for peace and human rights. In 2013, Girls Not Bride organization became independent, attracting many people from different countries. For instance, Sonata Alizadeh, Mrs. Graca Machel, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu are the champions of Girls Not Bride, and they advocate to end child marriage in our society. Therefore, Girls Not Brides is one of the organizations that advocate for women empowerment and have focused on eliminating child marriage.
Girls Not Brides
The institution’s founders wanted to end inappropriate practices that hold women back from realizing their potential and empowering other people to end child marriage. The co-founders of the organization sought to galvanize a global movement that would ensure equality of gender. Their vision was for everyone to be in a world that is free from child marriage and all genders to realize their full potential (Kohno et al. 16). The organization partnered with different organizations and societies based across Asia, Europe, Africa, America, and the Middle East.
The mission of the organization is to foster change in girl’s lives in society. In this case, the organization focuses on facilitating those trying to end child marriage, protecting young females’ human privileges such as the right to education and health and supporting married girls. Moreover, the organization creates awareness on the harmful impacts of a child by marriage and the benefits of ending it. Girls Not Brides members globally ensure girls can acquire education, access good health, and build their future. The organization is funded through grants and donations from the government, foundations, and other sources. Their generous support partnership enhances broader support to end child marriage, advances the knowledge of child marriages, and creates awareness of the issue.
Factors of Child Marriage
Child marriage is one of the crises that girls under the age of 18 face globally. It is illegal in most developing countries and is practiced widely in rural areas. Despite the laws against child marriage, it is widespread due to poverty, lack of education, insecurities, and traditions. Lack of adequate funds has led to child marriages, whereby girls and families prefer early matrimonies (Bouman et al. 23). Poverty has led to a lack of food and financial constraint. Thus, marriage is seen as a wealth source since many communities pay dowries. The groom’s family believes that young girls’ marriage reduces payment than when she is wedded at an older age in countries where the groom pays the dowry. Gender inequality has led to child matrimony, women are devalued due to their sex, and they are seen as second-class citizens. Therefore, Girls Not Brides has ensured that it educates the public about the need to end these marriages and guarantee that girls have an opportunity to acquire education and work hard to achieve their goals.
Girls Not Brides has also focused on how security leads to child marriages as families believe that school-going girls are at risk of being sexually active, and they would bring shame to the family. Due to security problems, most child marriages occur during a crisis (Bouman et al. 17). For instance, floods, wars, and other emergencies can lead to young women being married. In this case, girls are denied the opportunities to make decisions, and their families marry their daughters to older men for security. Traditional and social practice is another factor since the conventional practices are part of the community norms. Young girls are forced to marry at early stages due to societal pressure to prevent them from engaging in premarital sex.
Marriage in many regions in the contemporary world is no longer a cultural practice but a business. In this case, some families ask their teenage daughters to be married to older wealthy men for money. Girls Not Brides organization has played a significant role in educating societies about the dangers of child marriage and how it can impact an individual’s life. For instance, the institution has revealed that many young girls are exposed to domestic violence, impacting their mental health and other adverse health complications.
Consequences of Child Marriage
Girls Not Brides reveals that child marriage is an abuse of human rights, and girls should be protected from early marriage. One of the impacts of early marriages discussed by Girls Not Brides is ending a girl’s education, leading to poverty. Additionally, many girls who are married at an early age drop out of school (Bouman et al. 21). Consequently, they are likely to earn low wages leading them to live in poverty. The organization has also focused on health complications associated with child marriage. For instance, Girls Not Brides states girls who face child marriages suffer severe health conditions such as diabetes, stress, heart attack, stroke, and sexually transmitted diseases. In most cases, early marriages fail, leading to an increased risk of divorce, which can impact the separated young lady’s life (Kohno et al. 12). Therefore, Girls Not Brides has analyzed these issues involving child marriage to advocate for women empowerment and prevent girls from being exposed to early matrimony.
Ways of Empowering Women in the Society
The building of women begins with self-acceptance and self-strength to efficiency. However, different categories of women empowerment involve social, economic, political, educational, and psychological aspects. Protecting girls by offering education, counseling, and creating awareness of their rights will empower them and improve their lives (Bouman et al. 24). This has helped different organizations such as Girls Not Bride to fight against child marriage. Creating awareness of girls’ rights that protect them is a way of building young women, making sure that they are aware of their rights. Girls Not Brides states that these practices will reduce the number of child marriages and poverty and increase society’s development.
Provision of a ticket to a better life is another way of empowering women. Millions of girls use time meant for classes to find ways to access healthcare services and money to sustain them. Girls Not Brides has argued that providing some necessities will help retain more girls in school and guarantee that teachers mentor them. Education is another way of empowering women as every child has a right to education (Kohno et al. 13). Therefore, Girls Not Brides states that girls should be given equal rights to schooling as boys.
Reasons for Empowering Women
Girls Not Brides has primarily on the advantages of women empowerment. For instance, the organization has advocated for gender equality to ensure that women can realize their potentials. Girls Not Brides informs people that empowered girls break the cycle of poverty in the world. In this case, the organization states that empowered and educated women are likely to have better families, good wages, and educated children (Bouman et al. 50). Encouraging women to engage in various community activities has been encouraged as it can lead to a better and productive community. Consequently, Girls Not Brides has encouraged communities to empower women and ensure that girls are protected to promote their wellbeing.
Gender equality has been advocated globally to ensure the ending of gender-based violence by empowering women in society. The liberation of women has led to many productive women in society politically, socially, and economically. Girls Not Brides has ensured that women can realize their self-worth and make their decisions towards realizing their potential. Furthermore, females have transformed societies, communities, and countries through social development. Consequently, Girls Not Brides has encouraged societies to practice gender equality and avoid labeling women as the minority and inferior to men.
Conclusion
In conclusion, gender equality and women empowerment should be practiced universally. More organizations such as Girls Not Bride should emerge to protect girls’ rights and ensure equality for both girls and boys. The transformation of engaging women in various community activities will result in social, economic, political, health, and educative change (Bouman 34). Additionally, when women are given the same opportunities as men and enough resources, they can unlock their full potential and achieve their objectives. Poverty reduction, better families, and better access to education and health will also be achieved by empowering women and limiting child marriage. In essence, Girls Not Brides is an important organization that has advocated for women empowerment and has focused on eliminating forced child marriage.
Works Cited
Bouman, Martine, et al. “Entertainment-Education and Child Marriage a Scoping Study for Girls not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage.” Center for Media & Health, January, 2017, pp. 1-56.
Kohno, Ayako, et al. “Investigation of the Key Factors that Influence the Girls to Enter into Child Marriage: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Evidence.” PloS One, vol. 15, no.7, 2020, pp. 1-20. Web.