Human Rights Watch Bangladesh Witness: Ali Regrets Marrying Off a Young Daughter

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THE WEEK IN RIGHTS June 11, 2015 Follow us on:

Witness: Ali Regrets Marrying Off a Young Daughter  Photo © 2015 Human Rights Watch Ali Ahmad and his wife, Noorjann, are illiterate: "We can barely sign our names." But they believe in the power of education - Ali works long hours as a rickshaw driver while his wife labors at home, and they spend a week's wages each month to send their two younger daughters to school. Their older sister, Fatema, didn't have the same chance: she finished Class 7, at around 12 or 13, but was then married off by her parents because they were poor and didn't know any better, Ali says. Bangladesh has the highest rate of child marriage of girls under the age of 15 in the world, with 29 percent of girls in Bangladesh married before age 15, according to a UNICEF study.  It's a dark fate for many: Bangladesh leads the world in the rate of girls under 15 years of age who marry - 29 percent, according to a UNICEF study - which means hundreds of thousands of young girls each year find themselves forced into marriage.  Read Ali's story »  share on:

In Ghana, Child Labor Taints Gold Supply Chain Some work may be acceptable for children, but Ghana's unlicensed gold mines are very dangerous places where no child should work. Companies buying gold in Ghana should exert control over their whole supply chain to make sure they're not benefiting from child labor.  See the Latest News in Africa »  share on:

Brazil: Reject Move to Try Children as Adults The Brazilian Congress should vote down a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow 16 and 17-year-olds to be tried and punished as adults.  See the Latest News in the Americas >>  share on:

Cambodia: Chea Sim Death Shows Failings of Khmer Rouge Court Chea Sim's passing is a reminder that virtually all former Khmer Rouge officials have gone unpunished for the millions of deaths and incredible suffering of ordinary Cambodians during Khmer Rouge rule. It is a mockery of justice that Chea Sim could serve in the post-Khmer Rouge Cambodian leadership for decades without ever facing an investigation, much less arrest or prosecution.  See the Latest News in Asia »  share on:

US Should Support Anti-Torture Legislation Proposed legislation to reinforce the US prohibition on torture could help prevent the United States from again engaging in torture. However, until the US criminally investigates and prosecutes past torture and those responsible for planning and authorizing it, there is a danger US officials will ignore the law, as they have in the past.  See the Latest News in the United States >>  share on:

GRAPHIC       Brain damage, respiratory issues, or injury - what Ghana's child miners can expect.  View Now » FILM FESTIVAL       Human Rights Watch's New York film festival begins today. In the area?   Get tickets » TWEET of the WEEK Barring European journos from reporting on #EuropeanGames. Can it get more bizarre? http://www.hrw.org/node/135692 #Azerbaijan  Follow Giorgi Gogia »

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