Compassion is working to protect young women vulnerable to marriage abduction
International child development charity Compassion is working to tackle marriage abduction, or bride kidnapping, through partnerships with the local church across the globe.
Girls as young as 13 are captured against their will and forced to marry, something Compassion says is a common occurrence in parts of the world. They are often subjected to rape with the aim of forcing pregnancy and thus legitimising the union in the eyes of the local community.
Though forced marriages are frequently reported in the press, bride kidnapping is a lesser known phenomenon, despite many communities across the globe seeing it as a traditional custom. In parts of Thailand, particularly among the Hmong community, the practice is common and sometimes even endorsed by parents.
"According to Hmong culture, women are not naturally treated with respect or honour. There is a belief that daughters are just temporary residents, and that they will eventually have to leave their parents to be with their husbands," explains Pastor Wittaya of Ban Nam Sum church, which has been working with Compassion to combat the systematic abuse.
"If they cannot stay in the marriage with their husbands, they are prohibited to return to their parents' homes because there is no place for them."
Compassion is committed to changing the cultural attitudes that make such horrific abuse permissible, working in partnership with local churches and organisations to protect and care for vulnerable girls. Keep reading
Photo: Compassion International
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