A 10-year-old girl was rescued in Ecuador after allegedly being trafficked from Peru across the border to be handed over as a wife to a 50-year-old man, according to Ecuadorian authorities.
The man was arrested in Espejo, in the Amazonian province of Pastaza, and accused of human trafficking for servile marriage. Authorities said the operation followed a two-month investigation into cases involving the trafficking of minors.
The case has also highlighted the broader issue of child marriage in Latin America and the Caribbean. According to UNICEF, one in four girls in the region has experienced child marriage or an early union before turning 18.
Specialists cited by BBC said poverty, limited access to education, few economic opportunities and exposure to violence can contribute to girls entering early unions in search of security or economic stability.
