Forced into marriage by her family, 14-year-old Bisharo stayed only five days with her abusive new husband before fleeing his home, fending for herself in drought-stricken Ethiopia.
Unicef Goodwill Ambassador and famous singer from Benin Angelique Kidjo, explains to a young girl why she should not accept forced marriage, near Awassa, Ethiopia.Gender violence against women is also on the increase.Forced into marriage by her family, 14-year-old Bisharo stayed only five days with her abusive new husband before fleeing his home, fending for herself in drought-stricken southern Ethiopia.
For many desperate families, marrying off a daughter pays off twice: It reduces the number of mouths to feed, and the dowry given by the husband's family helps cover costs."My parents and my husband's parents have agreed on the marriage deal. I did not know about it. He came to me before the marriage and asked me to marry him but I refused," she said.
"My father told me if you get divorced, I am no longer your dad and you can't call me your father," she said.Neither her three brothers, nor her sister, can help. "Violence is common" in the camps, said Dr Fahad. He said a 7-year-old girl had been brought to the clinic after being raped in a camp in Abaqoro, a nearby district.
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