The ceremony in the southern Philippines goes viral - only days after legislators took a key step to end child marriages in the country. Most condemned the groom and what one described as "one of the most disgusting traditions" in the southern Philippines. Child marriages are however on track to be outlawed soon in the Philippines, where there are an estimated 726,000 girl brides - the 12th highest number of child marriages in the world. There are more child marriages in areas that are poor or racked by conflict or humanitarian crises. But even in times of stability, archaic social and gender norms fuel child marriage, said Lot Felizco, Oxfam's country director in the Philippines.

Source: The Star February 23, 2021 06:56 UTC