Yemeni activist Shada Ibrahim helped a year - old divorce her 30-year - old husband . Since then , Nasser has volunteered to help other young brides . She is also working to raise Yemen 's legal definition of marriage . However , they are not supposed to have sexual relations until they are `` mature , '' a stipulation that 's difficult to enforce . In some parts of the country , 9 and 10 - old brides are the norm .
Yemeni activist Shada Ibrahim helped a year - old divorce her 30-year - old husband . Since then , Nasser has volunteered to help other young brides . She is also working to raise Yemen 's legal definition of marriage . In some parts of the country , 9 and 10 - old brides are the norm .