Dhaka: A first-ever initiative, IMAGE, to support the girls married off in their childhood was launched in the capital on Tuesday to help them ensure their health and reproductive rights.

IMAGE, which stands for ‘Initiatives for Married Adolescents Girls’ Empowerment, was formally launched by State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroze Chumki at Spectra Convention Centre on Tuesday, reported UNB.

The project will reach out to 4,500 early-married adolescent girls and help them understand, utilise and practice their sexual and reproductive health and rights. The project will also conduct awareness and advocacy campaigns at national level.

Funded by the Netherlands, IMAGE will jointly be implemented by Terre des Hommes Netherlands, and Red Orange Media & Communications in Dhaka, and Terre des HommesLausanne, SKS Foundation and Pollisree in three districts.

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Meher Afroze attributed early marriage to four factors—poverty, education, social security and mindset.

She said although the government is working sincerely to prevent child marriage, it is impossible to stop the problem overnight.

But, she said, this remains one of the weaknesses in Bangladesh society despite its impressive gains in health indicators.  “Bangladesh is one of the few countries on track to attain child and maternal mortality rates.”

Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of early marriage in the world. According to Unicef, two of every three girls will be married before they reach 18 years of age. This rate is higher than that of the South Asian region -- 65 percent for Bangladesh compared to 48 percent for the whole region.

Health secretary Syed Monjurul Islam said girls’ early marriage remains to be one of the major concerns for the government. “This also seriously damages employment opportunities for girls.”

He said over 30 percent of early married girls become mothers during their teens, and about one-fourth of them end up bearing a second child. They become mothers even when they need more maturity to face life.

IMAGE aspires to intervene and bring about changes through carefully selected messages for not just the girls but also their husbands, in-laws, parents and communities in the project areas in three upazilas, one each from Gaibandha, Kurigram and Nilphamari districts.

Charge d’ Affairs of Netherlands Embassy in Dhaka Martine van Hoogstraten and executive director of Ain O Salish Kendra Sultana Kamal also spoke on the occasion.