The calculations in the post immediately below are mine and are based on the best stats I could find. Please feel free to challenge these numbers if you have better ones.
These numbers do not include the horrific practice of female genital circumcision practiced mainly in the region of equatorial Africa. There, 20 countries perform this barbaric butchery on at least 24% of girls; 14 on 50% of girls; and, incredibly, 8 countries on 88 - 98% of their girls.
A recent study by UNICEF determined that there are 125 million women and girls alive today who have undergone this mutilation. The good news is, the practice is decreasing. Let us pray that God will expedite that decrease. Read the article from BBC at '125 Million Girls Mutilated' in the Ripped From the Headlines column.
Also in the news today, some good news, sort of. Marte Dalelv, 24, the pretty young Norwegian woman who was raped in Dubai, was pardoned today and given her papers to leave the country. She had been raped by a co-worker and, unfortunately, reported it to the authorities. Her passport and money were immediately taken from her and she was charged with adultery, drinking and perjury. She was then sentenced to 16 months in prison.
Her rapist was charged for adultery and drinking and sentenced to 13 months in prison. The rape, apparently, was free. He was also pardoned today along with Ms Dalelv. See 'Don't Report Rape in UAE' in Ripped from the Headlines.
Also, I just came across this study from Unicef: According to the study, 39,000 girls are married every day before they turn eighteen. 7,600 of them will be younger than 15. Most of them will have no choice in the matter. Many will marry middle-aged or even old men. Many will be abused sexually and physically. Many will suffer and even die from complications to child-birth.
Read the emotional story of Nada al-Ahdal, a beautiful, 11 year old, Yemini girl sold as a child bride:
These girls are not included in the calculations below either.
We men have a lot to answer for when we stand before Christ.
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| Nada al-Ahdal, a Yemeni girl who was married to a man she did not know. At the age of ten, this beautiful child was "sold" off in an arranged marriage by her mother and father. |
A recent study by UNICEF determined that there are 125 million women and girls alive today who have undergone this mutilation. The good news is, the practice is decreasing. Let us pray that God will expedite that decrease. Read the article from BBC at '125 Million Girls Mutilated' in the Ripped From the Headlines column.Also in the news today, some good news, sort of. Marte Dalelv, 24, the pretty young Norwegian woman who was raped in Dubai, was pardoned today and given her papers to leave the country. She had been raped by a co-worker and, unfortunately, reported it to the authorities. Her passport and money were immediately taken from her and she was charged with adultery, drinking and perjury. She was then sentenced to 16 months in prison.
Also, I just came across this study from Unicef: According to the study, 39,000 girls are married every day before they turn eighteen. 7,600 of them will be younger than 15. Most of them will have no choice in the matter. Many will marry middle-aged or even old men. Many will be abused sexually and physically. Many will suffer and even die from complications to child-birth.
Read the emotional story of Nada al-Ahdal, a beautiful, 11 year old, Yemini girl sold as a child bride:
These girls are not included in the calculations below either.
We men have a lot to answer for when we stand before Christ.
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