The International Day of the Girl is just a week away. At Equality Now, it serves as a reminder that the only way to future-proof equality for future generations is to ensure that gender equality is rooted in and fostered by the law. However, most countries around the world still have laws that discriminate and disadvantage girls.

For example, the UN recognizes child marriage as a human rights violation that legitimizes abuse and denies girls’ autonomy. Nonetheless, child marriage happens on every continent except Antarctica. Each year, 12 million girls are married before the age of 18. That is 23 girls every minute, nearly one every two seconds! More than 650 million women and over 150 million men already suffer the consequences of child marriage, and climate change has the potential to make matters worse as families cope with unprecedented financial hardships. 

Regardless of where she lives, child marriage deprives girls the opportunity to reach their full potential. Thanks to the support of people like you, Equality Now is working to ensure that the legal age for marriage is 18, with no exceptions, worldwide. 

When young girls are forced to marry, they are at higher risk of marital rape, domestic violence, forced pregnancy, and negative health consequences, exacerbated by lack of access to education and economic security. 

A donation in honor of the International Day of the Girl will help us make girls’ well-being a global priority and ensure they can experience childhood without constant threats to their safety and agency. Thank you for your steadfast support.
 

In Solidarity,

Amy Hutchinson
Global Director of Development