Mexico is one of the countries with the highest rate of child marriage in the world. Almost 300,000 of today's girls and boys have been forced into marriage, most of them sold, and to an older spouse. Facilitating community processes, we have already ended the sale of girls for marriage in 3 communities. We want to continue impacting many more communities in Mexico where child marriage persists.
We tend to think that child marriage is only common in places like India and Yemen. Yet Mexico is one of the countries with the highest rate of child marriage in the world. Almost 300,000 of today's girls and boys have been forced into marriage, most of them sold, and to an older spouse. This is a human rights violation. The girls frequently suffer high levels of emotional, economic, physical and sexual violence. Despite being illegal in Mexico, forced marriage is part of the customs of many.
During 2015, 2016 and 2017, Yo quiero Yo puedo led a comprehensive community development program in 66 communities of Metlatonoc, Guerrero, a region where 40% of the girls are sold into marriage. Through a participatory process, and hand in hand with local government staff, we carried out 717 workshops. As a result of the "I want to, I can" program, in 2016, 5 communities worked for their local government to end the sale of girls for marriage, and 3 of them formally ended the practice.
The people of Metlatonoc have changed their way of thinking: "I am not an animal to be sold" - Martha, Metlatonoc "I am against the sale of women" - Ramiro, Metlatonoc We want to continue impacting many more communities in Mexico where child marriage persists. With your donation, we will be able to reach a whole additional community, putting us on our way to reaching 15 more communities, and making sure that more than 700 girls don't reach the altar and can decide their own future.
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