More stories of Yemeni child brides arise as young girls become more and more aware of their dreams to go to school and overcome poverty by not submitting to such controversial marriages.

Saadah's Story

Saadah was just 13 when she was forced as a child bride. Now all that she ever dreams of is to get back to finishing her education and despises ever getting married again. She lives in a small home with her two small boys with limited budget to spend.

Saadah was forced into being a child bride when her dad became sick and became incapable of sustaining the needs of his family. Her father then arranged her marriage thinking that it would be the only solution for his daughter to not suffer from poverty. However, just like most of the stories who are also called as 'death brides,' Saadah's older hubby sent her to the streets for her to work as a beggar along with their kids. This forced her to run away and come back to their family home.

Now, the 18-year-old victim of such fixed marriages in Yemen recalls how she was abused verbally and physically by her husband. Even if they have to live under a tight budget together with her parents and kids all under one roof, she considers her status in life now better than when she was married.

Even her own sister, Amnah, who is just 16 years old, is a victim of such early marriages. She ran away after five months of physical hardship from her husband too, including being stabbed with a dagger on her tummy.

Overcoming the Cruel Tradition of the Society

Due to the lack of a formal law that will set a minimum age allowed for marriage, many families in Yemeni societies think low of girls like Saadah and Amnah who run away from their marriages. There are some whom they get much sympathy from but they get more judgmental glances from the majority in the community.

It is usual news for the husbands end up abusing their child brides by beating them up to the core, not giving them food and even forcing them to have sex with them.

Information dissemination can be key to help many children avoid becoming helpless Yemeni child brides. It's a good thing that some young girls like the youngest sister of Saadah who is just 14 years old aims to continue her education first before tying the knot with any man.