Her case illustrates what human rights activists say is a dire situation for girls in Yemen: Child marriages are mounting dramatically in the Arab world’s poorest country, fueled by a war that has thrown society into turmoil. “Families also seek dowry payments to cope with conflict-related hardship.”Local organizations working to end child marriage point to what they consider numerous egregious cases. While the Ministry of Justice has issued a directive against marriages of girls under 18, it is often disregarded by judges. Child marriage is growing dramatically in the camps, said Najlaa Mohammed, with the Yemen Women Union. Once common in rural areas, child marriage is also sweeping into cities because of the conflict, said Nabil Fadel, head of the National Organization to Combat Human Trafficking.

Source: Egypt Independent May 28, 2017 09:22 UTC