Tracy, this 13-year old was forced to marry: Act now

This 13-year old was forced to marry: Act now

Dear Tracy,

Maria* was 13 years old when her father forced her to marry a 70-year old man - a common practice in Burkina Faso. Her father threatened her saying, "If you don't go to join your husband, I will kill you."

After being married off, Maria spent three days with her husband's five other wives before she fled. She walked 105 miles over three days to get to a shelter.

When her father learned that she had fled, he threatened to attack the priest who helped her escape if she didn't return home.

When she did return, she was beaten by her father and sent back to live with her husband. She again fled the house on foot and sought refuge at the nearest police station.

Please help Amnesty advocate on behalf of girls like Maria who have suffered the injustice of child marriage. We must stop this practice. Donate now and your contribution will be matched dollar for dollar for a short time.

When I was 13, I was an optimistic teenager looking forward to high school and dreaming of what I would be when I grew up.

In Burkina Faso, many girls don't get the opportunity to dream like that. Thousands of girls there are facing the same fate as Maria. They are often married as early as 11 years old, so their parents can benefit from the dowry.

Once married, the girls are expected to do the large majority of household chores such as cleaning, hauling water and cooking as well as working on the farm.

The police reprimanded Maria's father. But she remains at risk.

Help us protect Maria and make child marriage history. Please donate to support our efforts to help girls in Burkina Faso and in other countries where they need our voice.


Sincerely,
Tarah Demant
Senior Director, Identity & Discrimination Unit
Amnesty International USA