Will Covid lead to a jump in child marriages?

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An organisation which is campaigning to end child marriage is warning that large numbers of children in the poorest parts of the world may never return to the classroom even after the Covid-19 outbreak is over. Girls Not Brides says its member organisations are reporting a rise in child marriages and teen pregnancies as a result. In April, the UN said there could be as many as 13 million more child marriages globally over the next decade because of the pandemic. But what's the connection between school and child marriage? Dr Faith Mwangi-Powell is chief executive of Girls Not Brides. "Education really provides a safety net for girls. So when girls are out of school longer, they are likely to get married earlier than when girls stay in school." (Photo: Schoolgirl. Credit: Getty Images)