Ethiopi is home to 15 million child brides

The problem of child marriage is still prevalent around the world even in countries making major progress to improve women’s rights.

Yakaba was set to be married when she was 12 to a man nearly twice her age. But her family eventually stopped the wedding after her protests Source: Plan International

One such country is Ethiopia, home to 15 million child brides.

SBS travelled there and discovered why it's an issue that's persisting in the face of so many positive changes.

In Ethiopia's northern Amhara [[ah-MAH-rah}} region, three out of every five girls are married before their 18th birthday.

 

Yekaba [[yeh-KAH-bah]]was almost one of them.

 

She was just 12 years old when her father told her she was set to marry a man nearly twice her age.

Please listen to the full report in Pashto.