GirlChat #722358
Patriarchal values remain strong in Turkish society and girls and women are expected to conform to traditional gender norms and expectations. Violence against women and girls is high and tolerated and school attendance remains low for girls. Girls are often valued for their ability to be good wives and mothers and little importance is placed on their education.
Economic considerations along with concerns about girls’ safety and family honour are also drivers of child marriage. Turkey has a poor birth registration system which means that families can marry their daughters without fear of repercussion. The crisis in Syria and subsequent influx of refugees into Turkey and other neighbouring countries has caused a dramatic rise in the number of child marriages. Child marriage increases dramatically in emergencies due to increased poverty levels and a need to reduce household expenditure as well as parents wanting to protect their daughter’s honour and avoid sexual harassment and violence in an increasingly fragile environment. A UNHCR survey conducted in 2014 revealed that the average age of marriage for Syrian refugee girls in Turkey was between 13 and 20 years with many respondents saying if they had the money, they would not have resorted to marrying off their daughters at such a young age. • ( https link ) Girls Not Brides [Anonymouse] |