Wube-Enat's story, Ethiopia: Engaged at 10 years old

Half of all girls in Amhara, a region of north-west Ethiopia, will be married before they are fifteen. Some may be promised in marriage as young as five years old.

The consequences of early marriage on a girl's health can be severe. Pregnancy at this age is a life-threatening risk: girls under 15 are five times more likely to die in child-birth than women in their 20s.

In this film by Girls Not Brides member Safe Hands for Mothers we follow the story of Wube-Enat, who is 10 years-old and is engaged to be married. Abebe, her husband-to-be, is also a child groom. He is just 15 years-old.

We also hear the views of people who live in Wube-Enat and Abebe's community. The parents, priests and prosecutors share their views on child marriage and explain why the tradition is so difficult to change.

In the time it has taken to read this article 9 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

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Safe Hands for Mothers

Safe Hands for Mothers is an international charity, dedicated to reducing maternal and infant mortality. Safe Hands makes films to educate, train and raise awareness.