Agenzia Fides

Dhaka (Agenzia Fides) - Two out of three girls in Bangladesh are married before the age of 18, many on average around 12 years of age. In addition to child labor, Bengali girls are facing also this stark reality, especially among the poorest in the country. Although the State expressly prohibits it, there are many procedures that get out of control. Most marriages are celebrated in fact, with minor religious rites, such as Islamic or Hindu rite. Socially it is a very common practice, linked with poverty and with well-defined gender roles that girls are considered a burden to the family, since taking care of the house is not considered a job, while boys are considered an investment for the future because they bring home a salary. Therefore it is obvious that this phenomenon will exist until the economic conditions of the population improves and assistance and quality education increases. Currently 85% of the population of Bangladesh live on less than $ 2 a day and only 55% of children manage to finish their studies. On the occasion of Child’s Day celebrated recently, many international organizations came together to say "no to early marriage and violence against children." During the day, about 350 boys and girls marched with their parents, teachers and members of civil society, making their voices heard to denounce the consequences of marriage and child labor, in addition to violence against children, in school and at home. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 19/12/2011)