The European Union – United Nations (EU-UN) spotlight initiative has said 43% of Nigerian girls marry before the age of 18, while 17 % before they turn 15 years.
The organization stated this on Monday in a 2days seminar organized for journalist in Sourthern Nigeria Ibadan said that 20,000 new cases of obstetric fistula occur every year because of the child marriages in the country.
According UNICEF child protection Specialist, Mrs. Olasunbo Odebode, violence against women and girls is a silent killer that has taken the lives of many victims.
She said the health outcome go beyond the direct result of physical, psychological or mental health issues.
Mrs Odebode regretted that violence against women and girls in Nigeria does not receive full legal support because the victims in most cases prefer to be in abusive relationships than leave to face the ridicule of living outside their relationships or their wedlock.
“The social context of violence against women and girls is based on the traditional patriarchal structure that defines gender. It is the belief in Nigeria being a patriarchal society that women are subordinate to men and when married, they surrender to their husbands
” Women do not have a say in decision making, issues concerning their lives are decided upon and determined by others, usually men and older women; in the family, and violence is prevalent in the society, ” she said.
Also, the Executive Director Always Sisters Foundations for Care and Development, Mrs Chika Obechina in her lecture noted that child marriage does not only take place in the Northern but is rampart in other parts of the country.
