Millions of young girls live in underprivileged communities. All girls must be able to access their fundamental rights, such as education, protection from harm, and quality healthcare. Sadly, girls are still not welcomed in many homes and are viewed as a financial liability in some areas. She is not allowed to be born, and even if she does, there are many obstacles standing in the way of young girls leading equal-opportunity lives. Young girls are particularly vulnerable to abuse, violence, and neglect because of the extreme poverty in their families. This leads to unsafe situations that do immediate and long-term harm to their well being.
Such conditions frequently result in child marriage, which is one of the most common types of child abuse. One-third of child brides worldwide are from India, according to UNICEF 2014. Due to this, many girls experience sexual assault and other forms of exploitation, especially those under the age of 18.
Instead of becoming child brides, young girls must attend school. According to UNICEF, 60% of girls who married before the age of 15 gave birth before turning 18 years. Instead of going to school or playing with other children their age, girls get married. They are prevented from learning and developing which subsequently hinders their adolescent years. Child marriage worsens the economic conditions for future generations rather than improving them.
Every child is entitled to a joyful, healthy, and creative childhood, according to CRY America, an NGO for children. The goal of CRY America is to eradicate the practice of child marriage, and ensure that disadvantaged children finish school, receive a healthy diet, and have access to high-quality healthcare. You can donate to charity to help improve the lives of underprivileged children, besides the 700,000 children that CRY America has already impacted since 2004.
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