a documentary series founders valley is africa to meet the founders empowering their continent through digital innovation, a transformer, working and living conditions in their country. and inspiring the world with their ideas. on the belly, africa started february 13th, a. d, w. you're watching d. w. news asia coming up on the stubborn persistence of child marriage in india by some of india's poorest families feel the pressure to marry off their daughter's north will probably go activities. you've seen this in large silver and gold. tell reformed to force regretted that it's not a boy. the 2nd vill, oh my god,

how them like when to give good married off. floss, lunar new year, partying. people across china have waited for several years to experiencing normal, non pandemic, delighted holiday. and real face time with family. ah, i melissa chan, thanks for joining us. certain states in india still recognize child marriage, a practice that is often widely assumed to be ancient history. but in some communities in the northwestern state of rochester, for example, the tradition continues. and this of course impacts the rights of girls to study and to work as dw, many or chaudhry reports. a 19 year old valesvi loves to see a student in college right now. her dream is to become

a professional single. but 5 years ago, her life almost took a completely different course. when her parents tried to force her to marry at the age of just 14 medical by diving it without my consent, my parents fixed my wedding. when i learned about it, i tried to reason with them a lot, but nothing helped my name for me. they finally gave in when i threatened them that i would go to the police and the government i found yard, macy's, cynical, bye bye bye. louis is not the only one here who has faced such a situation. digest on is one of the states in india, where child matter is still an accepted social practice in many communities. lack of education and hype, or what the levels have kept this tradition alive. according to a government, so we conducted between 20202021 over 25 percent of women between the age of 20 to 24 were mad it before they don't 18 well if he was lucky she received counseling

from an injury cause because some time when she was being pressured to get married by her parents, rounded by osha chelsea, who managed to fend off her own child manage when she was 14. but member of the n g o has been working for almost 20 years. who addressed gender inequality issues facing young girls and women in india. it has successfully stopped. many child manages talk. i've been now oh, and for white counseling and education, support you almost by 1000 boons. who shall says that while many boys are also matted off at a young age, they don't face the same work and study obstacles that goes to a lot more needs to be done in terms of awareness, campaigns and laws, to obliterate the practice entirely. she adds a bebe, how me board we need to make a stronger push for the education of these girls. secondly, we need to work towards changing the mindset of the communities here. whether the

girls are not a liability or ment only for being in the kitchen. they have their own life, their own dreams. parents should have faith in their daughters, cbs or unbridled soccer. that's all these girls asked for no faith and support from their families. because i believe and many already have plans like rena. your who was engaged when she was 3 months old and month. oh, who was engaged when she was a johan? i was in what i'm studying to be a social worker and october everyone in my family that i won't marry until i fulfill this dream of mine. less pressure from the community for me to get married, but i don't want to marry now. i want to become a teacher. awaiting child marriage will still be a struggle for many of the schools. but thanks to and you like russia many more will follow their dream and not give into pressure. joining us is casita right now

of the organisation, the concerned for working children. welcome to the program because we see organisations step in to try to intervene and prevent child marriages or these actions enough then lottie mouth infect hardly know. we've actually recently spoken to a lot of young people in about 15 states of my country, india. and what they were seeing was very striking because these are young people who are really at the edge of the matters and so to speak, a lot of point. the listing of course was linked to whether or not law alone is enough. but i think the concerns are also a lot about what the ultimate is and please, what the educational auctions work of the likelihood option. and what we also found was that there were a lot of aspirations, young people have not only in terms of their own life, but also in terms of partnerships and sexuality. so for us, i think we feel

a lot of child marriage related discussion has really gone into a way a silo, only looking at the issues related to poverty and livelihoods of our dogs. now can you explain the thinking behind families who decide to commit their daughters to an early marriage you alluded to? poverty is that the main reason is an economic driver behind this phenomena. there isn't a good army driver, but behind the big somebody drive it is a social driver. you see the situation of young people in my country are extremely compromised for a lot of families. girl actually seen this and i believe so when it goes to the board, the 1st regret is that it's not a boy. the 2nd is, oh my god, how am i going to get this good matador? because so much seems to hinge good in terms of identity on american status. so

marriage for young girls is a very predominant factor in terms of people buying. the 2nd issue is also about 50 of young people. a lot of young girls are very unsafe, they don't feel predicted in the community. and very often baggage is considered a way of pleasing them and safety. so these 2 are very, very prominent. so you see a lot of the communities, especially in the nor bitten class, who probably think or you do that if i try, if my child is married, then she is part of the larger family she is protected. and next, she would have to look at if she can produce what you see through. they're not big but much more. so she's got it. now at the legislative level, are there moves to ban this practice state by state and, and why does there appear to be a lack of political will on this matter on so many fronts? a legislative mean india are in more. steve child marriage is early. marriage is

not allowed until the boy is 21, and girl is 18. so there is a difference. should they have been some arguments and why should they be differential con book be you know, 21. but the point is that the existing legislation, the only difference in legislation among the states in my country is in one or 2 states of my country. child marriage is white, have been in the sense that it is the media that is well, there is a child my wish. the child by this is not a marriage taught, but in all other teeth, a child mad it is still a marriage. so it cannot be annoyed unless if it's a court procedure. so, but there are pros and cons of board. you see, because at this point in time there are a large number of young people who are maggie's, and i think from the very young to be much older than their donaldson and the number of very young children getting mad. it has reduced significantly. that is

something you all noticed that you don't have too many to yet or the 5 year was getting married by god. i don't see you will see older young adults married, but what you've seen on. so for instance, something like what would happen the child by this is increased because the committee does feel very well. they don't they, they're trying to protect their families. and i think of the political when i think they do a lot of pressure on the government to actually respond to the situation. but the problem, julie is the responses the lawsuit, legislative, and what our children are constantly talking about. and young people use that up to 18 is fine. nobody's contesting that makes a lot of sense. but there was a recent move in the country to move. the age of marriage goes to $21.00 and the power of young people have said that is not ok. because the minute you increase age of marriage to $21.00, what happens or is that any act of living together or sexuality or reproductive

rights? the also no one can begin to come under $21.00 and that can actually harm and trim the life much more than could have understood coffee to rotten up. thank you so much for joining us. i'm very glad you're been there. thank you. ah. the lunar new year is a major holiday in east asia calendar and for chinese people around the world for china itself. it marks the 1st holidays since paging lift did it strict kobe pandemic measures allowing millions of families to reignite for the 1st time in 3 years. but many are still anxious after a recent spike in infections. ah, a festive gala welcoming the year of the rabbit. acrobatics. martial arts. over us. a

4 hour extravaganza to mark the most important holiday in china. ah, watch steven by chinese astronauts in outer space. the new year will bring peace. we wish you a new year full of promise. let's welcome every glorious day together. celebration smacking the new year were anticipated around the world. and at home in china, many families are re uniting for the 1st time in 3 years. with the pandemic is over here, and for the new year, i wish for a thriving business. i got a good health and a restored production. but above all good health. while many cannot wait to watch, the spectacular light shows fireworks and performances that amplify the festive

atmosphere. others are not celebrating at all because they are mourning the loss of their loved ones. that the handling treatise. we burn incense for the people who died. now will the genia we have to do it as early as possible after midnight in the chinese new year. our south china has experienced a search and called it 19 infections and related deaths, since bating lifted it strict restrictions in december. the holiday season is considered the world's largest annual migration of humans. concerns are high that those traveling back to their home towns could exposed vulnerable of family members to cove it 19. but for many it's a risk worth taking after years of not being able to celebrate with their family and friends. that's it for monday. be sure to check out our other stories on d,

w dot com, forward slash asia, and on social media. my name is melissa chan in berlin. we levy with pictures from across asia of lunar new year celebrations. thanks for watching and see you tomorrow with making the headlines and what's behind them. dw news africa, the show that faculty issues shaping the continent. clive are slowly getting back to normally on the streets to give you enough reports on the inside. our

correspondence is on the ground reporting from across the continent, all the trend stuff, the mazda to u. t. w. news, africa every friday on d. w. every journey begins with the 1st step, and every language with the 1st word, always been equal. rico is in germany to learn german. why not learn with him? a simple online on your mobile and free to shop. t w's, e learning course, nico speak? german made easy. ah . the world's biggest annual migration is underway. china celebrate the lunar new year just weeks after it drops. pandemic restrictions will the holiday travel bring a new wave of infections will have an expert on that also coming up parts

of europe finally get the snow there hoping for. but the long term outlook is a bit too sunny for the sky tourism industry. quarter takes a closer look and weeks after asia adopted the euro shoppers their cues. retailers are taking advantage of the european single currency as a way to push up prices. i'm critical button to program with corona, virus curves over chinese tourists were traveling all across the country and abroad to celebrate the lunar new year this weekend. but 1st reports show a lot less tourism than some businesses had hoped for. plains full of chinese tour said travellers nations including bali thailand or like here in egypt for the 1st time in many months. however, after years of a virtual travel band and strict measures to fight the spread of depend demik lunar new year, revenues are expected to be far from the $250.00 bill.