Although child marriage and “bride kidnapping” are illegal in Kyrgyzstan, both practices still exist in parts of the country. An initiative from a UN-backed programme is finally leading to a change in attitudes, and a decline in these harmful practices.
Millions of girls have been able to avoid “an unwanted marriage and an unwelcome end to their childhood”, since the launch four years ago, of a joint UN agency programme, the head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.
If girls are given the opportunity to explore their “full potential”, there would be many fewer child marriages across South Sudan.
That’s the firm stance of Nyagoa Nyuon, who grew up in South Sudan and is the founder and Creative Director of the fashion label, House of Bany, based in Kenya.
She is spearheading the Catwalk to Freedom initiative, which aims to reduce child marriages by empowering girls themselves, through modeling and photography.