HOW CAN WE END CHILD MARRIAGE?
There are many causes of child marriage which need to be tackled to completely end child marriage and ensure every girl enjoys their rights to grow up in freedom, without fear of violence, and to go to school.
Everyone has a role to play in ending child marriage, from governments to non-governmental organisations, to local communities - including school communities.
Because so many of the root causes of child marriage are to do with gender inequality and poverty, and because many of the causes overlap, governments are in the strongest position to tackle them.
GOVERNMENT ACTIONS
1.
Governments can make sure the law has a complete ban on child marriage (marriage below the age of 18), without any exceptions.
These exceptions usually include allowing marriages for younger girls if parents or guardians have given consent, or legally recognising underage marriages which have taken place through tradition, religion, or custom.
If these laws are created or already exist in a country, then the government should also make sure that the laws are implemented, and that children who are at risk of getting married have ways to report it or prevent it.
2.
Governments can also make laws which enable girls to go to school and complete their education.
Make it compulsory for all children to be in school until the age of 18.
Make sure that girls can access a good quality school, which has safe travel routes and functional toilets.
Get rid of any school fees or additional school costs so that all the children in a family can go to school.
3.
Governments can make sure other public services exist which can stop families being forced to marry off their children.
Governments can also take away the barriers which might prevent families from sending their children to school instead.
Social protection - money given by the government directly to families to ensure they have enough money to survive.
Free healthcare, so that there is no financial burden on families where there is sickness or injury.
Access to decent jobs in local communities for parents and other adult family members.
4.
In countries with a high rate of child marriage, governments should also implement specific actions to end child marriage.
Have a government minister or other senior member of government who is responsible for ending child marriage.
Allocate a budget to specifically tackle child marriage.
Have a national plan or strategy which targets children who are the most vulnerable to child marriage, such as children from poorer households and in rural or remote locations.
COMMUNITY
ACTIONS
Communities have an important role in ending child marriage, because they can ask governments to change their policies and laws, and governments are accountable to their citizens. This makes it vital to raise awareness among their friends, families, and neighbours - and in countries where there are high rates of child marriage, communities can prevent it happening in their locality.
It can be difficult to raise the issue of child marriage in countries where there are high rates, but it’s really important to try to have conversations about it. People may not be aware of all the harmful effects of child marriage - and it’s always possible to change somebody’s mind.
1.
Learn more about child marriage in your area and encourage friends and family to join you.
If your country has a high rate of child marriage, or if your country allows child marriage, it is likely that there are non-governmental organisations which organise awareness events for schools and communities, and particularly in areas where children are most vulnerable to child marriage.
If you cannot find any activities, you can work with your friends and family, or seek support from your school, to organise something yourself. Encourage your friends and family to attend and find out more - male and female alike. Men and boys must be part of the conversation, as there would be no child marriage if men refuse to marry children. By raising awareness of the negative consequences of child marriage across the whole community, everyone can be part of the fight to end it.
2.
Speak to your community leaders and local politicians and ask what they are doing to end child marriage.
Every country has signed up to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and when they did this, they agreed to end child marriage by 2030. Get in touch with local politicians, community leaders, or other leading figures in your community, and ask them what they are doing to end child marriage. Prepare your own list of things you think they should be doing, and try to establish an ongoing dialogue with them to make sure they stick to any promises they make.
If you organise an event with a local politician, you can invite the media to report on it.
3.
Take the Child Marriage Free World Pledge and end child marriage in your community.
Some communities in countries with high rates of child marriage have agreed to become ‘child marriage free’. This means that everyone works together to make sure no child marriages take place in the community, and that every child goes to school. If you can arrange a meeting with your local leaders, you could raise this possibility. It might help if you have the support of friends, family, and other community members, which you can demonstrate to leaders by making a petition. You can start by encouraging your community to take the Child Marriage Free World Pledge.
