Countries Where You Can Buy a Bride

Last Updated on April 21, 2023 by Charles D. Polk

It’s hard to comprehend that in this day and age, the practice of buying brides still exists. Across the globe, there are nations where it is legal and quite common to buy and sell brides. While rooted in culture, religion, and tradition in some countries, the buying and selling of brides is not only cruel but fundamentally wrong. In this blog post, we will highlight some of the countries where it is legal to buy a bride and why it’s time for change.

Vietnam

In Vietnam, the practice of buying brides is so prevalent that it is colloquially known as human trafficking. The bride trade is rampant with families actively selling their daughters to foreign husbands. While illegal in the country, the authorities turn a blind eye as the practice earns significant revenue.

India

While the dowry system in India was banned in 1961, it is still prevalent today. Parents are expected to pay exorbitant sums of money to the groom and his family as a form of compensation for taking their daughter in. When the family can’t afford the dowry or fails to meet the expectations of the groom, brides are often subjected to abuse and sometimes even murder.

Cambodia

Cambodia has one of the highest rates of bride trafficking globally; young girls are often forced to marry wealthy men in neighboring countries. In some instances, the girls are lured with promises of employment, education, and decent pay only to end up in forced marriages where they are subjected to abuse and exploitation.

North Korea

North Korea’s state-controlled system is built around its ideology, which entails that women are married off for the benefit of the country. Women in this country have no rights and are strictly governed by the regime, with the state matching them to men chosen by the authorities.

Africa

In many African countries, buying brides is still very much a part of tradition. In some parts of sub-Saharan Africa, bride price is mandatory and can be in the form of livestock, money, or goods. This practice has led to girls being taken out of school and forced into marriage at a young age.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the buying and selling of brides is a repugnant practice that must come to an end if we are to build a more just and equitable world. It is essential to raise awareness and put pressure on governments to outlaw this practice and, most significantly, understand that women are not commodities to be bought and sold. We must continue to raise our voices against these archaic cultural practices and work towards a future where every girl has equal opportunities and is free to make choices. We must fight to stop this practice as we believe that every person has the right to live freely and have a say in their life choices.