Every year fifteen million girls are married before they turn eighteen. That is one every two seconds.

Child marriage is fuelled by gender inequality, poverty, traditions, and insecurity. It happens across countries, cultures and religions. Child marriage violates girls’ rights to health, education and opportunity. It exposes girls to violence throughout their lives and traps them in a cycle of poverty.

Child marriage must end, but how do we go about it?

In celebration of International Day of the Girl, We Talk Women is screening a film called Difret on October 13th at George Ignatieff Theatre (15 Devonshire Pl). Inspired by a true story, the film features a young Ethiopian girl and a tenacious lawyer embroiled in a life-or-death clash between cultural traditions and their country’s advancement of equal rights.

In order to shed some light on this complex issue, the film screening will be followed by talks by Nadine Grant (Director of Programs at Plan Canada), Eleanor Hevey (International Policy Specialist at UNICEF Canada) and Marlen Mondaca (Director of Programs at Save the Children).

Registration is free but please pay what you can at the door. Suggested donation is $5. Find more information here.