The truth behind Norway's 'first child wedding'

Meet Thea, supposedly Norway's first child bride.

Thea is 12 years old and this Saturday she apparently plans to get married to her 37-year-old fiancé, Geir.

Her blog received half a million readers ahead of the wedding.

Thea's 'story' has shocked many, but it is not real. It is actually part of a campaign by children's development charity Plan International aimed at highlighting the 39,000 children every day who are forced into marriage. The charity says:

We believe that provocation is a powerful tool in order to demonstrate a reality that truly is very provoking. We hope people will mobilise against child marriage by being girl sponsors, so that most of the girls facing Thea’s situation every day can escape their brutal fate.

In Britain Plan International has its own campaign against child marriage and FGM called #FaceUP.

H/T Bored Panda

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