Voices

In this issue:

• Guatemala: Highlights from #DialogarParaCambiar
• CSW68: Find out more about the Agreed Conclusions
• Statement: Girls Not Brides Ghana Partnership 
• World Social Forum: Progress depends on girls being free to exercise their rights and agency
• Tostan Wellbeing Summit: What if Africa paved the way towards global wellbeing?
• CRANK Research Spotlight: Economic empowerment interventions
• CRANK Symposium: Resources from our symposium on mental health

🌍 GUATEMALA

Dear friend,

It has been a busy month, including important gatherings, events, and symposia around the world, all looking to progress the #EndChildMarriage agenda.

Our CEO and Girls Not Brides Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) team attended the #DialogarParaCambiar event in Guatemala, with the participation of representatives from Mesa Niña Guatemala, Red Voceras and SEPREM Guatemala.

This event offered a valuable opportunity to explore the context of child, early, and forced marriage (CEFMU) in the lives of children, adolescents, and youth in Guatemala. It also highlighted youth-driven approaches and facilitated ongoing dialogue with the new Guatemalan government to advocate for the inclusion of CEFMU in the public agenda. This engagement aims to encourage investment in comprehensive public policies that advance the rights of children, adolescents, and youth.

“Out of every Q100.00, only 2.5 cents go towards guaranteeing the rights of girls and youth.”
Joseline Velásquez, Mesa Niña Guatemala, gave us an overview of the contenxt of child marriage in Guatemala highlighting key insights from the Mesa Niñas Guatemala report on public investment in Guatemala.

"Governments should prioritise girls by providing training spaces that offer safe learning environments where girls can reflect and question societal norms imposed on them."
Mayerli Montúfar, Red Voceras e integrante de Las Niñas Lideran, shared with us the importance of spaces like Red Voceras, which includes the youth perspective in order to end child marriage.

"We have to talk to key figures who have an impact on societal norms if we want change. We have to talk to religious, community and ancestral authorities and leaders."
Mirza Cúmez, Gender and Public Policy Specialist at SEPREM Guatemala, shared with us the new government's commitments and priorities to guaranteeing the rights of children, adolescents and young people children, adolescents and youth as well as the need for intersectional approaches.

📢 ADVOCACY AND NEWS

CSW68: Agreed Conclusions

The 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women concluded with the adoption of the Agreed Conclusions, which this year focused on accelerating the achievement of gender equality by addressing poverty, strengthening institutions, and financing with a gender perspective. 

STATEMENT: Girls Not Brides Ghana Partnership

Following the widely-reported marriage between Gborbu Wulomo of Nungua, Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII and a 12-year-old young girl, Girls Not Brides Ghana Partnership swiftly shared a press release statement condemning the marriage and calling for arrest, dissolution of the marriage and support and protection for the affected girl.

It is understood that the girl and her mother have been tracked down and are under police protection.

💡 FEATURED ARTICLES

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM: Progress depends on girls being free to exercise their rights and agency

The World Social Forum (WSF) 2024 in Kathmandu, Nepal, brought together 50,000 activists and intellectuals from 98 countries to discuss socio-economic, climatic, and political issues. The Global Feminist Forum, aligned with WSF, focused on gender equality and justice, with 40 organisations exploring key themes like transformative feminist politics and ecological justice.

At the Women’s Assembly during WSF, discussions highlighted the urgency of addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and its link to child, early, and forced marriage & unions (CEFMU). It emphasised enabling girls to exercise their rights and agency free from discrimination and violence. The Global Feminist Forum also showcased youth-led initiatives to end CEFMU, stressing holistic approaches, evidence-driven strategies, and policy advocacy to end child marriage and protect vulnerable youth.

These events showcased collective action and youth engagement in advancing global gender equality and justice, emphasising the need for united efforts to end discriminatory structures and foster inclusive societies.

TOSTAN WELLBEING SUMMIT: What if Africa paved the way towards global wellbeing? 

Through painting, dancing, music and creativity, participants were inspired to reflect on the meaning of individual, collective and planetary wellbeing from an African perspective. The Summit created spaces for listening, sharing and contemplation, and participants dreamt about ‘the Africa we want to see’.

📖 LEARNING AND EVIDENCE

CRANK RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Economic empowerment interventions to address child marriage

CRANK SYMPOSIUM: Resources from our symposium on child marriage and mental health

This half-day symposium, organised by the Child Marriage Research to Action Network (the CRANK) and the University College London Global Network on Mental Health and Child Marriage, brought together researchers, practitioners, policymakers and donors to explore the existing evidence on the mental health consequences of child marriage, and on what works to support girls who are – or have been – married. 

You can find all the resources from this session – recordings, presentations, key takeaways below.

📌 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...