Too Young to Wed: Guatemala

In Guatemala, it's legal for a girl to marry as young as 14 — though many are married far younger than that. The result: Many girls marry men far older than themselves and become mothers long before they are physically and emotionally ready. Communicating the individual experiences of these child brides across cultural and language barriers became my passion, and, ultimately, my life's work. This project in Guatemala was done in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund. The film below was co-directed by Katie Orlinsky.

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Press Release

UNFPA Calls for Development Goal on Youth

15 November 2013
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News

Scaling Up the Humanitarian Response for Syrian Refugees

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Syrian refugees receiving supplies in Northern Lebanon. Photo: UNHCR/F. Juez
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News

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09 October 2012
With the help of her Choose Your Future classmates, Usha blocked her parents' plans to have her married at 15. Photo: William A. Ryan<
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News

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Kazan's mother offers support to Kazan and baby Shakira. Photo:UNFPA/Jamaica
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<p>Manantsoa Ratsarazaka (right) founded a groundbreaking project to educate and encourage young people in Madagascar to discuss reproductive health issues and seek advice, using the ever growing power of social media. <i>Photo &copy; Lovaniaina Tsiandatse/UNFPA</i> </p>
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News

UNFPA Launches Advocacy Platform for Post-2015 Development Framework

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News

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30 October 2013
<p>At 16, Tod is expecting her second child.&nbsp;With limited options for schooling, adolscents in some remote villages in southern Laos routinely marry and start the hard work of raising families by age 14 or 15. <i>Photo&copy;UNFPA AsiaPacific</i> </p>
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News

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26 August 2010
Maria Victoria Urquizo(15) was raped by a co-worker when she was 14 years old. Now she lives with her baby girl at her brother's house. Photo: Trygve Olfarnes/UNFPA.
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