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October 11, is International Day of the Girl Child. From the moment a female child is born, her rights to education, employment, inheritance, property ownership, safety, participation in public life, and freedom of movement may be eclipsed by sex-discriminatory laws. Women and girls may face unique challenges and harmful practices like female genital mutilation and child marriage.
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Last week we introduced you to a fictional girl named Raha. Shortly after her 15th birthday, Raha was removed from school and married to a man several years her senior. She became one of 650 million girls globally to be married before the age of 18. While many of her peers continued their education and experienced the joys of childhood, Raha found herself increasingly reliant on a stranger, the victim of rape, and isolated from her friends and family.
We’ve heard similar stories from women around the world. One Malawian woman said, “My husband was violent, and the dreams I had for my education were abruptly halted when I left school in Standard 7 (Grade 6). This impacted not only my education but also my mental and emotional well-being. Watching my friends continue with their schooling while I grappled with the challenges of marriage has left lasting scars.”
One of Equality Now’s four priorities is ending harmful practices, and we’re determined to prevent future instances of child marriage so girls like Raha can continue school and remain protected from increased risks of sexual violence and exploitation.
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Our work and impact is visible throughout the world.
In Africa:
This year, after years of advocating for the end of child marriage in Sierra Leone, Equality Now witnessed the passing of the Child Marriage Prohibition Act, which banned marriage under the age of 18 without exception in Sierra Leone. We are now focused on a media campaign to promote awareness of the new law. This change in the law now protects an anticipated 1.3 million girls under the age of 18 in Sierra Leone who are at risk of child marriage.
In the Middle East and North Africa:
This year, in Istanbul, Equality Now organized a three-day legal and media advocacy workshop for 20 young men and women from Jordan, Palestine, Morocco, and Tunisia. Participants learned how to develop a legal advocacy campaign and short films with their mobile phones to deliver key messages. By the end of the three days, participants formed five working groups and created short films on intersecting issues like disability and domestic violence, child marriage, and more.
In Latin America & the Caribbean:
Equality Now is supporting advocacy for a bill toward ending child marriage in Colombia (PL 155/2023C) which would raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 without exception. In Argentina, we are collaborating with national partners on an awareness campaign to highlight the prevalence of child marriage and early unions, emphasizing the need to reform the law and remove exceptions for marriage under 18.
This is just a sliver of our work, which benefits millions of women and girls as well as future generations. However, our work isn’t free. That’s why we’re calling on you – one of our greatest supporters – to support Equality Now with a gift today. Together, we can change and save lives.
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Throughout Raha’s life, many people, such as teachers, parents, law enforcement, and friends will have the opportunity to support her. Here at Equality Now, we are honored to have a role to play in improving the lives of women and girls like Raha, and we hope you feel the same.
Together, and with your continued support, we can create a world in which every girl has the right and opportunity to enjoy her childhood. Together, we can end child marriage for good. Thank you for continuing to support this essential work.
In solidarity,
S. Mona Sinha
Global Executive Director
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