The International Day of the Girl Child was marked in Toliara with a focus on the fight against early marriage. Despite the efforts, the path ahead remains long, as evidenced by the statistics.
Lucia, only 14 years old and a student in the fourth grade at the CEG in Ampanihy, is already promised to a man chosen by her family once she completes her middle school certificate (BEPC). Her parents, struggling with poverty in the rural commune of Ankilizato, view her marriage as a way to receive dowries—often in the form of zebu—to alleviate their financial burden. Despite her dream of becoming a lawyer or judge to change such situations, she remains trapped by these expectations.
In regions like Bezaha, Betioky, and Ampanihy, traditions such as “valy fofo”—where a girl is promised to a boy even before birth—persist to maintain community ties. Official MICS 2025 data reveals that in the Atsimo Andrefana region, 41.8% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18, with significantly higher rates among the poor and less educated.
To mark the International Day of the Girl Child, the Regional Directorate of Youth and Sports, alongside organizations like UNICEF and UNFPA, organized various events in Toliara, including workshops and awareness campaigns. Basile Rambeloson, the Regional Director of Youth and Sports, emphasized that raising awareness among parents and young men about girls’ rights is essential, as early marriage often leads to a cycle of abuse, violence, and psychological trauma for minors who are not yet ready for such responsibilities.
Captured & Published at: 2026-10-27 05:53:34 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/10/atsimo-andrefana-le-mariage-precoce.html