Riyadh newspaper THERE was a time when the marriage of underage girls was considered normal. There were no girls' schools and marriage was thought of as something good for society as it offered protection to the girl. Of course not all families believed in marrying girls off at a young age, particularly families whose male members were educated and believed that a girl had a right to enjoy her childhood. With the introduction of girls' schools and the spread of mass media, a number of male and female sociologists, psychologists and thinkers have brought attention to the issue by highlighting the negative effects such unions have on girls and their families. For this reason, the subject has attracted a lot of attention and in addition to its psychological effects, much has been said on its humanitarian, health and social dimensions. We should also not forget that this is an issue of human rights, something this country has signed numerous treaties and conventions for. Let us begin with the rights of children promised by the state; we promise them the right to acquire knowledge, education, healthcare and a stable family among other rights. But a child bride is deprived of her innocence and her rights usurped. She will suddenly find herself a housewife with either a family to care for or in a situation where she is one of several wives. Whatever her circumstances are, she must adapt to them very quickly and we can only imagine what it is like for a girl at such a tender age to go through such a situation. She might not immediately realize what the long term effects of her situation will be but eventually she will come to see how her future and dreams were buried alive. Another aspect that is rarely discussed is the physical effects of consummating a marriage with a young girl. The first night is indeed a traumatizing experience for her. The impact on her fragile body at the hands of a man who has experience and no mercy can be deadly. Not yet fully developed, she might suffer a hemorrhage and lose a lot of blood and there have been several cases of girls even dying. If she becomes pregnant, there are further complications including high chances of miscarriage, premature birth and her own safety and life is also at risk. We must think seriously about banning the marriage of underage girls. Even if a girl gives her consent, her young age does not qualify her to make such a decision. A father who marries off his daughter with the hope of getting money is also not justified in giving his daughter's hand in marriage. In my next article, I will continue talking about this subject and will share the cases I have come across during my work at the Ministry of Social Affairs. __
