About the Speaker
Arzina
Begum
Child marriage abolitionist
Arzina Begum is a child marriage abolitionist from the Nilphamari district of Bangladesh. When she was 12 years old, her parents tried to coerce her into an arranged marriage, but she resisted by seeking the help of a local children’s organization called Sunflower. Begum is a campaigner against child marriage in her community and works to keep the Nilphamari district free of the practice. She is a member of the development committee in her village, the Union Council Women and Child Related Standing Committee, and the Community Clinic Management Committee. She is also an advocate for increasing access to education for women.