According to the research presented to Parliamentary Commission on Equal Opportunities for Men and Women, 5 million 439 thousand women in Turkey are made to marry at very early ages, 7 million women with "family decision" and 2 million women against "bride price".

The report prepared by Dr. Ýlknur Yüksel Kaptanoðlu and Assoc. Dr. Banu Ergöçmen from Hacettepe University Population Studies Institute shows that the labour force participation rate of women is 23.5 percent while this proportion rises to 69.1 percent in men. 27 percent of working women leave their jobs due to marriage, 11 percent due to work-related problems and 11 percent due to child care and pregnancy.

The report stated that the rate of marriages at 18 and younger ages reach up to 39.8 percent of all marriages, while 5 million 439 women marry as a "child bride".

The research presented to parliament also records that the decision of marriage is made by "families" by 52.3 percent, while 2 million women equal to 14.6 percent of women are made to marry against "bride price". The number of women made to marry with a first degree relative is 1 million 700 thousand, 452 thousand 139 women marry with a religious marriage ceremony.

Translation: Berna Ozgencil