Prevention of Child Marriages: Nevşehir Model

Background

Girls who are married off before the age of 18 are vulnerable to domestic violence and sexual abuse. Neither physically or mentally ready to give birth, girls face higher risks of having problems during pregnancy and birth. Once married, they also have to leave their education to take on the responsibility of the household. In order to prevent early and forced marriages, the health perspective of the issue should be emphasized and multilateral intervention mechanisms should be established.

Project Goals

• In Nevşehir, workshops with the participation of representatives from local government, universities and non-governmental organizations will be held to plan the activities of the project and delegate the duties.
• 25 women who were married off early will be trained as “health mediators” and these women will reach and inform other women in their neighborhood.
• Trainings on the risks of early and forced marriages will be held for the education, health, social services, security, judicial and religious officials.
• 3 workshops will be held on preventing early and forced marriages and providing public services for teenage pregnancies. Also, local action plans will be prepared.
• An awareness-raising campaign will be held throughout the city by using banners, leaflets and short movies.

Project Results

• 19 women who were married off early will be trained as “health mediators”. These women informed persons in their neighborhood about the adverse health affects of early marriages.
• More than 800 households and 40 tradespeople were visited.
• Public officials were trained, and various meetings were held in order to develop action plans.

“I was forced to marry when I was 12 and became a mother at 13.5 years of age. Before this project, I did not know I was a child bride. I have suffered a lot and my fight continues, but this project has taught me a lot and made me more confident. I thank my teachers very much.  Fatma Çingilitaş - Health Mediator

“I got married at 15 and gave birth at 18 years of age. Both my children were born premature. One was born two months early and the other one month early. This Project made me understand that the cause of my problems was the early marriage.”  Nuray Ergin - Health Mediator

“Hearing life stories in neighborhoods, I cannot help thinking this project should have been initiated long before. I did not know the problems of massive bleeding and high blood pressure after giving birth, and miscarriages experienced by women are consequences of child marriages. I thank my trainers in this project very much as they have taught us a lot about possible health outcomes of child marriages.”  Hülya Belirir - Health Mediator