Selena's Story :: Courage in the Heart: Stories of Gender Justice + Legal Empowerment

SELENA'S STORY View Selena's Photo Essay

When Selena was 13, her father arranged for her to get married. Her mother disagreed, but was unable to convince him to stop the marriage on her own. She informed the fellow members of her Citizen Action Group (Polli Somaj) and they confronted her husband and told him that if he tried to go through with the wedding, they would tell the police. The Citizen Action Group (Polli Somaj) is a village based women's group that aims to promote and practice active citizenship and encourage collective action and community solidarity. The Citizen Action members protect their citizens and ensure that their community member's rights are safe guarded. Selena, now 16, plans to finish school, get a job and only then get married.

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SELENA'S STORY

Selena and her mother at a BRAC Citizen Action Group (Polli Somaj) meeting. When Selena was 13, her and her mother were able to prevent her wedding by enlisting the help of their fellow BRAC Citizen Action Group (Polli Somaj) members.

Selena and her mother at a BRAC Citizen Action Group <i>(Polli Somaj)</i> meeting. When Selena was 13, her and her mother were able to prevent her wedding by enlisting the help of their fellow BRAC Citizen Action Group <i>(Polli Somaj)</i> members.

Members of the Citizen Action Group <i>(Polli Somaj)</i> confronted Selena's father and told him that they would report him to the police if he went ahead with the wedding. He agreed to wait until she is the legal age of 18 before she gets married.

Tanha, the leader of her Citizen Action Group <i>(Polli Somaj)</i> explained, 'Through the Citizen Action Group <i>(Polli Somaj)</i> and because of my own experience I know the negative effects of the early marriage.' In this picture, she is leading a meeting.

'We are getting help from the Citizen Action Group <i>(Polli Somaj)</i> to stop polygamy, early marriage and family problems. So if anyone faces any problems, then we will help them.' (Nasima, member of the Citizen Action Group <i>(Polli Somaj)</i>)

Selena's mother explained that she did not want her daughter to get married because of the consequences of early marriage like high maternal mortality and the likelihood of being abused by in-laws. In these photos: Women attending a Citizen Action Group <i>(Polli Somaj)</i> meeting.

A sign hanging in the BRAC Branch office. It lists the activities that their local BRAC Citizen Action Group <i>(Polli Somaj)</i> have undertaken.