Thursday, May 17, 2012

Sleeping Better at Night

She was trapped.  She was desperate. And she did not want to marry a 60-year-old man.

Two years ago, 14 year old Aminat ran 125 kilometers away from home to seek our paralegals’ help in Bauchi State, Nigeria. She heard there were individuals in Bauchi who could help defend her rights. She needed to know that there was some section of some law that would protect her from marrying this man.

Our trained paralegals were able to educate both Aminat and her father on the law that actually gives women the choice of whom they marry and when they marry.

Aminat is currently in school.  She did not have to get married. Aminat now wants to be a lawyer and make a difference in the world.

Abi Baiyewu, Global Rights’ Nigeria Country Director, made our work so real when she told Aminat’s story, at our recent event on April 25, 2012.

Whether it is in Nigeria, Afghanistan or Morocco, Global Rights is making a difference in the lives of young women around the world. We are ensuring that women like Aminat are able to live free of any human rights violations.

This certainly makes me sleep better at night.

-- Susan

P.S.  If you want to help change the lives of young women like Aminat, please make a contribution here