Adjaratou

age 14, married in mali

She was maybe 12 or 13 when she married her maternal cousin in accordance with her parent's wishes. She says the beginning of her marriage was "not an easy time."

Her husband forced her to go learn the verses of the Koran, to cover her head, to wear boubous.* But she refused it all, and so was constantly beaten by her husband. She had two miscarriages in a row, then gave birth to a boy. Her parents have intervened to keep the couple together.