"I feel it’s not enough for me to have learned something," says Rachana, 18. "It needs to be shared with others around me, people in my society." Rachana is a graduate of Rupantaran, a project by UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Zonta International to protect girls from child marriage and ensure their access to the education and skills training they need to reach their full potential.
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One girl in one of the rural communities here was ashamed to tell my colleagues that she wanted to be a doctor. She felt something must be wrong with her since that kind of dream was reserved for the boys alone... Another girl asked me during an outreach, "what's the use of entering secondary school if I'm lucky enough to find a very rich man who's willing to marry me", she was barely 12... A 2022 report by UNICEF on child marriage inferred that 2 in every 5 women in Nigeria were married in childhood. Unbelievable right? I mean this is 2022 not the 90's. As surprising as this may seem, my experience in the social sector working with the girl child for the past 3 years has shown me that the issue of child marriage is still more prevalent than many of us know. It's no longer a case of parents and guardians forcefully sending off their daughters; most girls have been subconsciously conditioned to believe that marriage is an escape route from poverty and a one-way ticket to their freedom. This is as a result of the cultural beliefs and mindsets these girls were born into. This issue of child marriage has actually gone deeper than many of us can imagine. This is why in Sister's Ally Foundation for Community Development (SAF) one of our major theory of change is to raise girls who will defy the status quo in their rural communities and set a standard for younger girls to aspire for. We all have a role to play, simply support and encourage girls around especially those who are passionate about education and their personal development. Give them a helping hand because beyond helping them, you're indirectly helping to set a new standard for girls yet unborn. #sdggoals #sdg5 #sistersallyfoundation #ngo #girlchildadvocate #linkedinwithkemi
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Wonderful WWF Women! Can you believe how quickly this week is flying by? We’re feeling the rush too. Earlier this week, there was alarming news from a state in Nigeria about plans to marry off over 100 children who had tragically lost their parents to banditry in the Mariga Local Government Area of Niger. So, today, we are shining a light on the grave issue of forced child marriage and the immense harm it inflicts upon young girls. Make sure you stay with us through this conversation. FORCED MARRIAGE Forced child marriage is a blatant violation of children’s rights, depriving them of education, health, and protection from harm. It robs them of their autonomy and condemns them to a future marked by suffering. Forced marriage occurs when one or both parties involved cannot or do not consent to the union. It represents a severe form of violence against women and young girls, compromising their physical, mental, and reproductive health. It poses a grave threat to their lives and futures. According to the United Nations, “every year, at least 12 million girls are married before they reach the age of 18. This is 28 girls every minute.” Shockingly, global prevalence studies suggest that it will take 300 years to eradicate child marriage. We’ve reached a critical juncture where raising fierce awareness and advocating for change are essential to protect the rights and futures of countless young girls. In our upcoming posts, we'll discuss the impacts of child marriage and explore actionable steps to combat this injustice. Stay connected for more. #EndChildMarriage #ChildRights #GenderEquality #EmpowerGirls #HumanRights #WomenEmpowerment #GirlsEducation #ChildProtection
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#16DaysofActivism - 🚫 Say NO to Early Child Marriages! 💔 These harmful practices rob young girls of their innocence, education 📚, and dreams. Let's break the chains that bind them and empower a brighter future. 🌟 Did you know? 🟠 Globally, 640 million girls and women alive today were married before age 18. At current rates of progress, it will take 300 years to end child marriage. In Zimbabwe 🇿🇼: 🟠 34% of girls are married before the age of 18 and 5% are married before their 15th birthday, in comparison to 2% of boys being married before their 18th birthday. In Zambia 🇿🇲: 🟠 29% of girls are married before their 18th birthday and 5% are married before the age of 15, in comparison to 3% of boys who are married before the age of 18. Together, we can end this injustice and ensure every girl has the opportunity to thrive. 🧡 Source - https://lnkd.in/gBHEFUzd #EndChildMarriage #GirlsDeserveBetter #16DaysofActivism #stopchildabuse #ProtectOurChildren #endsexualviolence #Endviolenceagainstwomenandgirls #securehopeempowered #impact #education #consistency #NoToGBV #family #GirlChildRights #advocacy Catalyst Care Group Mayda Mapondera Ashleigh Fox Tamsen Garrie-Frith
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Today, I had the privilege of joining a field visit as part of World Vision Bangladesh’s initiative to create Child Marriage Free Villages. Our journey took us to a small yet vibrant village in Jahanpur Union, home to about 700 households. 🌏 Our goal? To witness firsthand the transformative impact of our initiative. In this community, with over 800 adolescents, a remarkable change is unfolding. Families and village heads have pledged not to marry off their children before they turn 18. This commitment is a beacon of hope in Bangladesh, where child marriage has been a persistent challenge for over 45 years. 🤝 Through consistent awareness and confidence-building efforts, we've seen the community pledge to uphold this child marriage free status. The dedication of our community facilitators, who worked tirelessly with each family, was nothing short of inspiring. 🚨 A vigilance team, diverse in its members, plays a crucial role in monitoring and preventing child marriages. In the past year alone, their swift action stopped two potential child marriages, maintaining the village's commitment to protect its youth. 🌐 Across Bangladesh, our efforts have led to over 150 villages declaring themselves as child marriage free zones. This signifies the commitment of nearly 105,000 families to this cause – a monumental achievement in safeguarding the future of our children. 💡 The collaboration with local government bodies, youth forums, child forums, and village development committees(VDCs) has been pivotal in this journey. Their active engagement ensures the continued protection of children's rights within these communities. 🤗 World Vision is steadfast in advocating for this cause. We believe in a future where every child is free to live, learn, grow, and fulfill their potential without the shadow of early marriage. 📢 Interested in learning more or joining our cause? Please reach out. Your support can help us create more child marriage free communities and ensure a brighter future for our children. #ChildMarriageFree #WorldVisionBangladesh #Empowerment #CommunityDevelopment #Impact
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Malawi has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world, and many Malawian women experience sexual and physical violence during their lifetimes. As we near the end of the #16DaysofActivism, Palladium: Make It Possible’s news site, The Catalyst, highlighted the work PROPEL Health is doing to combat #genderbasedviolence and #childmarriage in Malawi through policy and radio programming with local partners. USAID | UN Women | Developing Radio Partners
The UN's 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence began on 25 November. We're highlighting PROPEL Health's work to increase legislation and access to education to combat both child marriage and gender-based violence in Malawi, the country with the highest rate of child marriage in the world. Learn about how the team is partnering with youth radio stations to share information and more: https://ow.ly/6nXp50QgriB #PROPELHealth | #USAID | #Policy | #Education | #Malawi | #16DaysofActivism | #GBV | #ChildMarriage
PROPEL Health is Using Policy to Fight GBV and Child Marriage in Malawi
thepalladiumgroup.com
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Advocacy and Campaigns Acting Manager at Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage
My favourite event at #WD2023 has to be the one Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage co-hosted on preventing child, early and forced marriage and unions in the face of a polycrisis! We were honoured to be joined, among many others, by Mary Robinson and Graça Machel - two of Girls Not Brides' most esteemed champions, as well as Canada's Minister for International Development and the AU Youth Special Envoy! What a line up! Two key messages stayed with me, because of the authority with which they were delivered: First, Mary Robinson's reaction to UNICEF's latest data on child marriage, which highlight that at the current pace of progress, 9 million girls will still be married in the year 2030: Unacceptable. In 2015, through the SDGs, states made a commitment to #EndChildMarriage by 2023. We must regroup and fight even harder. 20 times harder, according to UNICEF data. Second, Graça Machel's passionate intervention, reminding everyone that norms and traditions are man-made, so they can be changed. And this change has to happen in our lifetime! We cannot afford, as a society, to pass on the challenge of ending child marriage to the next generations! A most welcome boost to strengthen and accelerate our work!
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Child marriage has become embedded within our culture, deemed as a detriment to the free will and livelihood of women worldwide. However, child marriage stems beyond a threat to women - but to the prosperity of our world as a whole. What if ending child marriage once and for all could contribute to global economic growth? The International Center for Research on Women estimates that if child marriage and early childbearing cease, the approximate global welfare benefit will be $566 billion by 2030. This is a direct consequence of the increased early fertility rate observed in child brides. Child marriage comes at a cost, not just to the oppressed young women, but to the Earth as a whole. Is this a toll you’re willing to pay? Join the Casey Foundation Africa in our efforts to ensure girls are not brides by donating at: https://lnkd.in/ged3-uUE Source: The Economic Impacts of Child Marriage (International Center for Research on Women) #endchildmarriage #womensrights
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🔎 As knowledge partner of the Break Free! (BF!) programme, the SHRH team at KIT Institute conducted a study focused on child marriage in Zambia. This study, carried out in collaboration with experts from the University of Zambia and the Zambia Break Free! Alliance, explored what factors are influencing the different child marriage rates between Eastern and Western province and provided an overview of effective child marriage prevention interventions. These findings support local NGOs in their lobbying and advocacy efforts with governments and donors. The work is an important step in addressing critical issues affecting young people in Zambia. But how did the research team go about it? And how have local partners received their findings? 📝 Read more on their process, key takeaways and action points to help transform the evidence system for improved lobbying and advocacy in this blog by Hannah Jasmin Kabelka: https://lnkd.in/gqeghe5h #BreakFree! #SRHR #ChildMarriage
Setting the stage: facilitating evidence-informed advocacy to end child marriage in Zambia - KIT
https://www.kit.nl
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We are seeing evidence of progress globally in reducing child marriage. UNICEF reported in 2021 that the proportion of young women globally who were married as children decreased by 15 percent in the previous 10 years. Yet, the estimated global number of child brides was 650 million in 2021. For those working or interested in learning more about SDG Target 5.3 (eliminating child marriage), UNICEF provides valuable data and a global trends report (see link below). https://lnkd.in/gZMtJkEb
Towards Ending Child Marriage - UNICEF DATA
https://data.unicef.org
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Kenya set an ambitious goal to end FGM by 2022, but we're past that target date and the practice remains prevalent. While progress has been made, systemic barriers continue hampering efforts to uphold children's rights. Ending deeply entrenched social norms like FGM requires addressing its roots through diverse initiatives. Legislation alone is insufficient without also shifting mindsets through education and empowerment. We must give communities ownership of the solution by understanding their needs and beliefs. Promoting alternatives like vocational skills cultivates long-term mindset change. With a more holistic, collaborative approach, I'm hopeful we can finally eliminate this harmful practice. Our children's futures depend on maintaining momentum through strategic, multi-pronged actions. Let's keep the conversation going on how to most effectively protect girls' rights. World Vision Kenya, World Vision World Vision USA. #EndFGM
Ending female genital mutilation, child marriage and teen pregnancies in Kenya: The need for a multifaceted approach
nation.africa
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