World Vision Ireland has said child marriage is a blight on any community and is often linked to maternal and infant mortality, usually because the little girls are not physically ready to give birth.

“Today our witness to the distress of refugees should be a call to action.”

Refugees are people like everyone else, who have been deprived by war of their homes, their jobs, their parents and their friends, Pope Francis stresses.

Jesuit Refugee Service calls on the Government to provide funding and support to help them transition to life outside Direct Provision.

Statement published to coincide with World Refugee Day today.