India - We fight against early marriages. The story of Venkumari

India - We fight against early marriages. The story of Venkumari
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04 July 2017

(ANS - Bangalore) - Fraidy Reiss is the Director of "Al Fin Sin Cadenas", (In the end, without chains) an organization that fights to eradicate the marriage of minors in the United States. She defines it as "a frightening situation" the fact that "across the globe over 700 million women currently married were married when they were still young girls." India was indicated by George T., of CBN, as "the world capital of early marriage". Salesians support these girls with the "CREAM" program of the Bangalore Salesian NGO "BREADS."

Venukumari, Sowmya, Akshita, Anjali, Swapna, Savihta ... the number of child-brides in India was about to increase.

Venukumari is a happy Indian girl because today she does not have to go to the market to work and, especially, because today she can go to school to learn and play with her friends. Her history is marked by poverty. Ever since she was young she had to neglect school because her parents could not afford to have her study. She had, in fact, to help support the family. But things could also get worse: her parents decided to give her away as a bride.

She had not yet turned 15, but her parents thought that marriage would be the best for her. Venukumari had no voice in the decision. On the day of the ceremony, a group of "Child Rights Education and Action Movement" (CREAM) intervened and interrupted the marriage.

Venukumari is just one of the thousands of girls who have been forced to marry before reaching the age of majority.

CREAM is a program launched by the Bangalore Salesian NGO "Bangalore Rural Educational And Development Society" (BREADS) committed to the rights of children being known and respected. Among its goals is to put an end to the practice of early marriages.

India is one of the many countries where early marriage is on the rise. Every year, 10 million girls marry before turning 18. The practice is widespread in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. "A little girl gets married and goes to live with her husband's family. She is not allowed to go to school and be educated. As soon as she reaches puberty she is expected to have children, "reports CBN.

The "CREAM" program saves girls from forced marriages.

InfoANS

ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.