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NIGER / EARLY MARRIAGE
STORY: NIGER / EARLY MARRIAGE
TRT: 3.07
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / HAUSA / NATS
DATELINE: MAY 2010, MARADI / ZINDER PROVINCES, NIGER
1. Various shots, girl
2. Various shots, men talking
3. Close up, old man looks on
4. Med shot, girls look on
5. Close up, young girl
6. SOUNDBITE (French) Maimouna Abdou Regional Director of the Promotion of Women and Protection of Children:
“A girl who refuses to accept the decision of her parents is considered to be outside the boundaries of society. And it’s all the pressure of society that makes many of them accept the marriage even though they do not really consent.”
7. Med shot, mother and girl walk in streets
8. Wide shot, mother and girl walks to centre
9. Wide shot, mother and girl inside office
10. Med shot, mother talks to girl
11. Close up, social worker
12. Close up, girl cries
13. Wide shot, car with social worker arrives at home
14. SOUNDBITE (Hausa) Sahira, Fifteen-tear-old Girl:
“I did not want this man to touch me, so he used to insult me and beat me, with his fists.”
15. Wide shot, girl enters consultation room
16. Close up, doctor writes
17. Med shot, doctor and girl
18. SOUNDBITE (French) Doctor Lucien Djanikbo, Fistula Specialist, Zinder Central Maternity:
“One of the biggest complications that we know is obstetrical fistula. As a result these women often lose their babies and at the same time they also lose part of their dignity because they can no longer control their bladders.”
19. Wide shot, women at hospital exterior
20. Med shot, girls wait at hospital
21. Close up, young girl reading Koran
22. Close up, Imam singing to girls praying
23. SOUNDBITE (Hausa) Imam Malm Magagi:
“Islam is a religion that favours the social wellbeing of the whole society. So I do not agree for anyone to marry a girl very early, before she is of age to be wed. Because I promote the wellbeing of the community I cannot promote an early marriage that could have negative consequences on the health of the girl.”
24. Wide shot, girls walk on street
25. Close up, girl
Sahira is just fifteen but her life is about to change forever. She has just found out that she is being forced to marry a man she has never met. And she has no say in the matter
Sahira’s future is being decided by her father and the community.
The tradition of early and forced marriage of young girls has been practiced for generations here.
SOUNDBITE (French) Maimouna Abdou Regional Director of the Promotion of Women and Protection of Children:
“A girl who refuses to accept the decision of her parents is considered to be outside the boundaries of society. And it’s all the pressure of society that makes many of them accept the marriage even though they do not really consent.”
Fifteen-year-old Sahira has been forced to marry a man three times her age. Her mother opposes the marriage and is bringing her to the regional office of the promotion of women and the protection of children, a government department supported by UNICE, that is campaigning to eradicate the practice.
Sahira is too traumatized to speak.
A few days later, the social worker visits her at her mother’s home to help her obtain a divorce.
SOUNDBITE (Hausa) Sahira, Fifteen-tear-old Girl:
“I did not want this man to touch me, so he used to insult me and beat me, with his fists.”
Teenage girls under 18, who become pregnant, are also at added risk for medical complications because their bodies are not yet fully matured.
SOUNDBITE (French) Doctor Lucien Djanikbo, Fistula Specialist, Zinder Central Maternity:
“One of the biggest complications that we know is obstetrical fistula. As a result these women often lose their babies and at the same time they also lose part of their dignity because they can no longer control their bladders.”
This clinic, which specializes in fistula care, is crowded with women of all ages.
Niger has the highest rates of early marriage in the world. But UNICEF and its partners are working to change laws and attitudes together with religious leaders.
SOUNDBITE (Hausa) Imam Malm Magagi:
“Islam is a religion that favours the social wellbeing of the whole society. So I do not agree for anyone to marry a girl very early, before she is of age to be wed. Because I promote the wellbeing of the community I cannot promote an early marriage that could have negative consequences on the health of the girl.”
Despite the challenge of changing age-old traditions, UNICEF remains committed to helping girls like Sahira have a family life of their own choice.
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