U.S. Embassy Reports 25% Increase in Forced Marriages and 45% in Early Marriages in Afghanistan

The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan reported on Friday, December 6, an alarming increases in forced and early marriages among Afghan girls, coinciding with the closure of schools, Khaama Press reported yesterday.

In a video message, Joel Sandford, head of the USAID mission, revealed that forced marriages have risen by 25%, while early marriages have surged by 45% since the Taliban shut down girls’ education beyond the sixth grade.

The embassy emphasized that these trends pose significant social and economic challenges for women in Afghanistan. It criticized the Taliban’s “promotion of virtue” law as dangerous, further exacerbating the vulnerability of girls under their regime. Human rights organizations have previously raised concerns about the rise in such marriages as families view them as alternatives to education.

The U.S. Embassy called for urgent international action to protect Afghan girls and restore their basic rights, underscoring the need for continued advocacy against these human rights violations.