Achieving what we once thought impossible: an end to harmful traditional practices

Photo: Tostan

In the time it has taken to read this article 59 girls under the age of 18 have been married

Each year, 12 million girls are married before the age of 18

That is 23 girls every minute

Nearly 1 every 2 seconds

About the author

Molly Melching

Molly Melching is Founder and Executive Director of Tostan. To find out more about Tostan visit www.tostan.org. Read about Tostan's work as featured in the New York Times: Senegal Curbs a Bloody Rite for Girls and Women

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