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Subscribe To Newsletters Flash sale: Less than $1/week Sign In BETA THIS IS A BETA EXPERIENCE. OPT-OUT HERE Edit Story Leadership UNICEF IS WORKING TO END CHILD MARRIAGE IN ETHIOPIA Sarah Ferguson Brand Contributor UNICEF USA BRANDVOICE Storytelling and expertise from marketers | Paid Program Apr 2, 2024,08:00am EDT Updated Apr 2, 2024, 12:06pm EDT * Share to Facebook * Share to Twitter * Share to Linkedin Child marriage robs girls of their childhood and threatens their well-being. After 13-year-old Zemzem was abducted in southern Ethiopia, quick-thinking members of a UNICEF-supported youth group mobilized to rescue her before she could be forced into an early marriage. Abducted by three men who planned to force her into child marriage, 13-year-old Zemzem was rescued with help from quick-thinking members of a UNICEF-supported youth group in Derrara, Sidama region, Ethiopia. © UNICEF/UNI469219/Pouget Thirteen-year-old Zemzem was on her way to the store in Derrera in the Sidama region of southern Ethiopia when she was abducted by three men. "I screamed all the way to the place where they took me," she said. "I'm so scared, just thinking about it." The men hid her in an unfamiliar house. Their plan was to force her into an early marriage — in some rural parts of Ethiopia, girls are regularly pressured into child marriage. Quick-thinking members of a UNICEF-supported youth group mobilized to find and rescue Zemzem a day later. "We heard that Zemzem was abducted, so we got together with her father and tracked down the perpetrators," said youth group member Mereke Hameso. "After we caught them, we handed them off to the authorities." Watch the video: “I am young, and I don’t want to get married but, most importantly, I don't know anything about marriage," said Zemzem. "All I know now is that I want to learn, study and make my dad proud.” > “I don’t know anything about marriage. All I know now is that I want to learn, > study and make my dad proud.” > > Zemzem, 13 Zemzem’s father, Jemal Kedir, recalls the terrifying night. “I kept thinking of the worst, but I had to remain positive and hopeful to get my daughter back,” he said. “If she hadn’t been found, she would have suffered from the physical and emotional pressure of early marriage.” Zemzem's parents, Jemal Kedir and Hajitu Mohammed, are firmly opposed to the harmful practice of child marriage. © UNICEF/UNI491998/Assefa UNICEF YOUTH GROUPS ARE WORKING TO CHANGE COMMUNITY ATTITUDES TOWARD CHILD MARRIAGE, FGM AND OTHER HARMFUL PRACTICES UNICEF supports youth groups to raise awareness on social issues including child marriage, female genital mutilation and other forms of violence against girls and women. The community in Derrera has made huge strides in preventing child marriage, once widely practiced. “We used to have 15 to 20 child marriage cases within a span of seven months, but now the number has significantly reduced," said Abraham, a local social worker. "Previously, the fate of young girls was determined through negotiations between families, often resulting in early marriages. But that has changed." Community members including Abraham, a local social worker, third from right, worked with local authorities to find and free Zemzem after she was abducted, and to bring her assailants to justice. © UNICEF/UNI491942/Assefa EVERY GIRL HAS THE RIGHT TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT HER OWN FUTURE Abraham and members of the youth group share information with their community about the harmful effects of child marriage and take measures against those who force the practice. “The community now understands and refuses to wed their daughters. They also know that abduction is not something you move on from with a simple apology or negotiation," he added. Through the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Program, a global partnership between the United Nations and the European Union to eliminate all forms of violence against girls and women, UNICEF is shedding light on the consequences of child marriage. The program empowers communities and implements preventive measures to protect vulnerable girls against harmful practices in the district. > “I don't have much to give my daughter, but I will carry all the burden to > make sure that she gets an education.” > > Jemal Kadir, Zemzem’s father Now more than ever, Zemzem's father wants her to stay in school, learn and become a force of change for her community, just like the youth group members who rescued her. "I don’t have much to give to my daughter, but I will carry all the burden to make sure that she gets an education,” he said. Hajitu Mohammed, Zemzem’s mother, shares her husband's concern and opposes the practice of child marriage. She believes that child marriage steals young girls’ futures, and wants her daughter to finish school before considering marriage. Though she is grateful for her life, she wants a much better life for her daughter. “In the future, when she chooses to marry, I hope she finds a strong partner who will share the burdens that come with being a wife and a mother,” she said. Zemzem is planning to become a teacher one day, so she can help prepare other children to make informed decisions about their own future. © UNICEF/UNI492002/ Zemzem's plan for the future is to complete her education and one day become a teacher herself. “I want to become a teacher because I love learning, especially math. I would teach children about math and child marriage. I would also share my experience, so they know they have a choice for their future.” UNICEF works around the world to promote children's rights and protect their future. Your contribution can make a difference. Please donate. This story was originally published on unicef.org Sarah Ferguson Sarah Ferguson is the Senior Editorial Director at UNICEF USA. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times Book Review, The Guardian, Elle, Vogue, New York magazine, ... Read More * Editorial Standards * Forbes Accolades SIGN IN OR CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT Email Sign In Or Register OR USE Continue with Google Continue with Facebook Continue with Apple auto PREMIUM Want to save more articles? Subscribe today. You've reached your limit of articles you can save without a subscription. Subscribe now to save as many articles as you want. Premium Journalism, deeply reported stories and breaking news Members-only events Subscribe Subscriptions renew automatically. You may cancel your subscription at any time.