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SEPTEMBER 2024

Dear friend,

A future without child marriage should not be a dream.

At the 79th UN General Assembly and Summit of the Future, world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to ending child, early, and forced marriages through the Pact for the Future, representing a huge win for the movement to #endchildmarriage.

While a key step forward, the document missed key opportunities to include language to fully recognise adolescent girls and guarantee their access to their sexual and reproductive health rights. While it is important to recognise the incredible progress made at national, regional, and global levels to end CEFMU, there is still a long way to go to #endchildmarriage by 2030. With strong collective action, a future free from child marriage is possible.

We must continue to work together to make this future a reality.

FIND OUT MORE [[link removed]] 📢 LATEST NEWS & UPDATES 🎉Girls Not Brides nominated for “Campaigning Team of the Year” at the 2024 Charity Times Awards!

We are proud to announce that Girls Not Brides UK National Partnership has been nominated for "Campaigning Team of the Year" at the 2024 Charity Times Awards!

This recognition comes after more than a decade of tireless campaigning, lobbying for the UK government to take action on child marriage. Their efforts culminated on 26 April 2022, when the UK government passed a law raising the legal age of marriage to 18 in England and Wales, marking a historic milestone for ending child marriage in the country.

We are incredibly honoured to see the Girls Not Brides UK National Partnership recognised for their dedication and hard work!

African Union Goodwill Ambassador's Exit Report: Ending Child Marriages in Africa

With 650 million women and girls globally having been married before turning 18, and most of the highest rates of child marriage found in Africa, this report offers a vital roadmap for moving forward. The launch of the former African Union Goodwill Ambassador to End Child Marriage, Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda’s exit report details the challenges she faced, strategies she used, and key recommendations for further ending this harmful practice.

READ THE FULL REPORT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW WE ALL PLAY A ROLE [[link removed]] 📰 IRAQ: Musawah Statement on Iraqi Parliament’s Amendments to Personal Status Law

Musawah, a global movement for equality and justice in the Muslim family, has issued a statement against a proposed bill which could lower the age of marriage for girls to as low as 9 years old. The statement emphasises that the bill contradicts both Islamic principles and international human rights standards and that the proposed amendment would fragment the legal system, endanger women and girls, and violate Iraq’s constitutional commitment to legal equality.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT [[link removed]] 📝 LEARNING & RESOURCES

Ten Years of Progress: Reflecting on the UN General Assembly Resolution on Child, Early and Forced Marriage

On the 10-year anniversary of this landmark resolution, this paper reflects on how far we have come as a global community – and how far we still have to travel – to end CEFM and support girls who are, or have been, married (ever-married girls). It provides key recommendations for future UNGA CEFM Resolutions so that we can accelerate action to #endchildmarriage.

READ THE REPORT & RECOMMENDATIONS [[link removed]] Safeguarding Webinar Series: Resources Now Available

Missed the sessions? You can now access the recordings of the recent safeguarding webinars as part of our Safeguarding Month initiative. These sessions provide valuable insights into:

International safeguarding standards and frameworksSafeguarding challenges in various contextsEstablishing protocols to protect all stakeholders and rights holders

Whether you're working directly in the field or want to learn more about safeguarding practices, these resources are a must-watch!

EXPLORE THE RESOURCES [[link removed]] MenEngage Africa SRHR Learning and Exchange Symposium

The MenEngage Africa SRHR Learning and Exchange Symposium, held in Nairobi this August, brought together diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, community leaders, and youth advocates, to share knowledge on SRHR priorities in Africa. Girls Not Brides contributed by leading a session on data-driven gap identification, featuring speakers from Rural Women Peace Link and Data for Policy and Social Impact.

EXPLORE INSIGHTS & RESOURCES FROM THE SYMPOSIUM [[link removed]] EVENT: Accelerating Evidence-Based Action to End Child Marriage

Are you attending the upcoming Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) conference in Cape Town? If you are interested in discussing & shaping the latest process to update child marriage research priorities on October 22nd at 7 pm, please register your interest! [[link removed]]

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST [[link removed]] MOVEMENT MAKERS

As our inspiring #MovementMakers campaign, launched in July, continues, we're thrilled to showcase two more remarkable leaders this month.

Kolawole's Story: The Power of the Collective

From his early struggles in Nigeria to his studies in Austria, Kolawole’s journey is a powerful story of perseverance and inspiration. See how Kolawole’s deep personal connections and experiences have fuelled his mission to end child marriage in Nigeria.

Sangita’s Story: The Time for Equality is Now

Sangita's journey begins in a conservative, patriarchal village, where her mother was married at just 14 and gave birth to her as a child herself. Inspired by the resilience of the women in her community, Sangita has become a passionate advocate for ending gender-based violence.

Don't miss a single inspiring story — catch up on all our #MovementMakers videos by visiting our YouTube playlist. Also, remember to share these with your networks.

WATCH ALL MOVEMENT MAKERS' STORIES [[link removed]] 📌 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean on the Impact of Laws on CEFMU

Most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have set 18 as the legal age of marriage, but meaningful government commitment and action often end there. This brief provides an overview of how laws on child, early, and forced marriage (CEFMU) and sexual consent affect the prevalence of child marriage and the rights and agency of girls, adolescents, and young women in the region.

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