A 71-year-old woman has married a 17-year-old toyboy just three weeks after meeting him at her son’s funeral.When grieving pensioner Almeda Errell went to pay her last respects at her son’s funeral, the last thing she expected to find was love. While child marriage rates have declined in many regions, it remains a significant global issue. 12 million girls are forced into marriage each year. Child marriage is most prevalent in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, though it exists in pockets of nearly every continent.
Even in some high-income countries, legal exceptions or parental consent laws allow under-18 marriages to continue. These statistics highlight the intersection of culture, poverty, gender inequality, and legal systems. Teachers, doctors, counselors, and social workers often have legal obligations to report suspected exploitation or coercion involving minors.
