UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is Melka. She lives in Northern Ethiopia and her story is far too common. At the age of 14, she was forced into an arranged marriage.</s>MAAZA MENGISTE, WRITER: In Ethiopia, one in five girls gets married before the age of 15. The reason is really financial hardships. The family feels like they need to send a girl off to another man's home so that he can take care of her.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But when girls like Melka refuse to marry, they suffer.</s>MELKA, FORCED INTO MARRIAGE (through translator): Without my consent, my parents forced me to get married. I said I do not want to go and when I refused to go, my parents beat me.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On her wedding night, Melka ended up in the hospital. Authorities got involved and she was sent back to her family. Her mother says she regrets forcing Melka to marry, believing they both would have been better off if Melka had continued her education. Now Melka is working to prevent this from happening to other girls. She spends her free time at the local primary school teaching them about the dangers of early marriage and how they can make a better life for themselves by staying in school. Women like Melka want girls in Ethiopia to know they have a choice and they are not alone.</s>CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Melka was able to go back to school and complete her high school education. To learn more about how to help prevent early marriages and support girl's education go to CNN.com/girlrising. And by the way CNN film "GIRL RISING" premieres this Sunday, June 16th at 9:00 Eastern.
Forced into Marriage at Age 14