Joint Eastern and Southern Africa Civil Society Forum Declaration Communiqué to End Child Marriage

Civil society organisations across Eastern and Southern Africa reaffirmed their shared commitment to ending child marriage as a legal obligation. While acknowledging progress made through legislative and policy reforms, participants raised deep concern over gaps in implementation, budgeting, enforcement, and accountability.

The declaration highlights that millions of girls in the region continue to face child marriage, driven by poverty, gender inequality, harmful social norms, conflict, climate shocks, humanitarian crises, and economic insecurity. Civil society actors emphasised that laws alone are insufficient without coordinated action, survivor-centred services, sustained financing, and meaningful participation of girls and young women.