Nada al-Ahdal was saved after her uncle intervened An 11-year-old Yemeni girl has drawn the world\'s attention to the issue of child brides after denouncing her arranged marriage in a video posted online .
In the video posted on YouTube, Nada al-Ahdal defiantly declares: \"I\'m not an item for sale,\" and says she was only saved after her uncle intervened.
She tells the camera how she ran away to her uncle\'s house after her family married her off to an older man for money.
\"I have managed to solve my problem, but some innocent children can\'t solve theirs, and they might die, commit suicide, or do whatever comes to mind,\" she says
According to Yemeni law, girls of any age are allowed to wed, and because of that 52 percent of girls in Yemen are married before the age of 18. However, the law also states that intercourse is prohibited until the child has reached puberty, a law that is ignored by many.                               
Nada points out in her video that her story is not the first: \"There are many cases like that. Some children decided to throw themselves into the sea. They\'re dead, now.\"
Poverty plays a role in hindering efforts to put an end the practice, as poor families find themselves unable to say no to bride-prices in the hundreds of dollars for their daughters.
Ancient tribal custom however is also to blame, including the belief that a young bride can be shaped into an obedient wife, bear more children and be kept away from temptation.