Divorced Child Bride Prompts New Legislation in Yemen

10-year-old Nujood Ali, the first child bride ever be granted a divorce in her country, tells her harrowing experience in a soon to be released memoir.

At age nine, Nujood was forced to marry a man three times her age. During her “marriage” Nujood was repeatedly beaten, raped, and prevented from seeing her family. When her husband finally agreed to let her visit her family, she escaped and went straight to a courthouse. She made history by being the first child bride in Yemen to get a divorce.

Marriages between children and adults are somewhat common in Middle Eastern countries, especially in poor rural areas. It's not uncommon for poor families, especially large families, to agree to marry off their daughters at a young age. In Yemen, the poorest country in the Arab world, more than a quarter of women are married by the age of 15.

Unfortunately, several Middle Eastern countries still do not have laws in place that prohibit children under the age of 18 from getting married. But things may soon change in Yemen, as citizens are now pushing the government to ban child marriages. The proposed law would set the minimum age to be married at 17 for girls and 18 for boys.

A decision is expected to be made sometime in April.

For divorce news and information in your state and around the world, click here to find a family law attorney near you!