On September 13, 2014 the New York Times released an article discussing the increased number of Syrian child brides in refugee camps. The marriages are being arranged for multiple reasons, ranging from economic benefits to safety and security.

"For many Syrians stuck in Jordan’s squalid and sometimes dangerous refugee camps, marrying girls off at younger and younger ages is increasingly being seen as a necessity — a way of easing the financial burden on families with little or no income and allaying fears of rape and sexual harassment in makeshift living spaces where it is harder to enforce the rule of law" - Rana Sweis

Day 108: Child Brides and Trafficking

October 14, 2014 by Megan Parker

Is Forced Marriage a form of Human Trafficking?

Some would argue no and many would argue yes. Do you remember the definition of Human Trafficking? Human trafficking is the illegal movement of people, using force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of forced sexual exploitation or forced labor. The definition of CHILD TRAFFICKING is the same definition, however it is defines a child as a person under the age of 18. The key words are FORCED and AGE OF 18.

Child marriages often include brides under the age of 18. The young girls are often forced into marriage. If the girls are forced into marriage under the age of 18 to marry men of any age for the purpose of being their wife and/or to produce children, do you believe this is a form of human trafficking?

Day 107: Child Bride

October 13, 2014 by Megan Parker

Statement on Child Brides: "Every year, throughout the world, millions of young girls are forced into marriage. Child marriage is outlawed in many countries and international agreements forbid the practice yet this tradition still spans continents, language, religion and caste" - Stephanie Sinclair

Day 106: Labor of Love

October 12, 2014 by Megan Parker

Child Brides. This week I want to talk about Child Brides!

An article in National Geographic Magazine portrays a horrifying perspective of what it means to be a child bride. In this article, the girls are 15, 13, and 5 years of age. How is this acceptable in any country, by any human being?

To find out more about Child Brides, please click on the link below and watch the video.

Link: http://pulitzercenter.org/articles/child-marriage-brides-too-young-to-wed-afghanistan-ethiopia-india-yemen

Day 105: Saturday Book

October 11, 2014 by Megan Parker

Saturday's Book: "Girls Like Us: Fighting for a world where girls are Not For Sale, an activist Finds her Calling and Heals Herself "by Rachel Lloyd

The book can be purchased on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Girls-Like-Us-Fighting-Memoir/dp/0061582069/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415043191&sr=8-1&keywords=girls+like+us+rachel+lloyd

Enjoy!