MSP highlights plight of girls forced to marry

Central Scotland MSP Elaine Smith marked International Women’s Day by hosting an event at the Sco t t i s h Parliament to highlight the plight of young girls forced into child marriage.

Seven schoolgirls from across Scotland were asked by international development charity Tearfund Scotland to speak at the gathering on behalf of a girl in Malawi of a similar age, to share their story and highlight the charity’s work to rescue girls in the region caught up in this practice.

In Malawi half of girls are married by their 18th birthday, with some as young as 9 or 10 being forced to marry.

Tearfund is working t h ro u g h the local community to put an end to child marriage and provide opportunities for young people to return to education.

Ms Smith said: “Child marriage is a human rights violation.

“These girls are forced into marriage before they are physically and mentally ready, even for consensual marriage.

“Tearfund Scotland are doing brilliant work to bring this to the public’s attention and empower communities to put a stop to this barbaric practice”

The charity’s Lynne Paterson said: “We are grateful to Elaine Smith MSP for hosting this event and helping to highlight the work we are doing to ensure child marriage becomes a thing of the past.”

Tearfund Scotland has also launched a photo exhibition telling the stories of girls whose lives have been transformed as a result of this project.

To find out more about the project go online at tearfund.org/7girlsmalawi.

Telling tales Elaine Smith MSP with the girls who took part in the event