Children as Victims of Forced Marriages in Lesotho: A Question of Cultural Practice or Approval of Child Exploitation

This study focuses on the experiences of children as victims abduction into forced child marriage in Lesotho. The pays attention to living rural area Semonkong, where patterns are common. objectives were, explore factors that contribute incidents a marriages, determine effects marriages. used qualitative research method. A sample 10 participants (all women aged 21-51) from Semonkong Lesotho were sampled using Snowball sampling. In-depth interviews collect data and analyzed thematically. findings: families use cultural practice means exact power authority exploit escape poverty. Most girls abducted without their consent, threatened, continuously violated They experienced damaging degrading psychological but more so endure all sorts abuse never reported incident police. Recommendations: Preventing requires strengthened legal policy frameworks, ensure increased awareness greater enforcement existing laws.