The biggest problem a 10-year-old girl should have is who to invite to their birthday party, or having to finish homework before being allowed to go to a friend’s for a sleepover.
They certainly shouldn’t be petrified of being sent overseas to marry a man more than three times their age.
However, that’s the reality for the young Sydney girl who has called Kids Helpline on numerous occasions to express her fear over her parents sending her overseas and forcing her to marry a 31-year-old.
The child bride first contacted the helpline in March, after her parents told her of their plans for her to be sent to the Middle East, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The counsellor said she discussed her fears of having sex with the 31-year-old man.
“She contacted us first in March saying, ”I want to talk to a counsellor today about getting married’,” the Kids Helpline counsellor said.
“She did talk a little bit about having sex and her concern around what that was all about.”
Kids Helpline are working with New South Wales police to try and identify the girl after she gave them the name of her school, however, so far they’ve had no luck finding the child.
According to the Australian Federal Police, the rate of child-bride trafficking has doubled in recent years, with tip-offs being sent from teachers, counsellors and school principals.
“The numbers we are seeing calling are small but certainly they are more than what we were seeing a couple of years ago,” Kids Helpline told The Daily Telegraph.
RELATED: Disturbing Video Allegedly Shows Child Bride Forced Into Marriage In Melbourne
RELATED: Sydney Woman Claims Young Women In Australia Are Being Forced Into Child Marriage
To contact Kids Helpline call 1800 55 1800
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