Every year on 11 October, we mark the International Day of the Girl Child to recognise girls’ rights and the unique challenges they face around the world.
At Equality Now, we use this moment to shine a spotlight on child, early, and forced marriages and unions (CEFMU), a widespread but preventable violation of girls’ rights.
Across the world, millions of girls are married before they are ready, forced into adulthood and denied their right to education, autonomy, and joy.
Child marriage is a global human rights crisis. Despite commitments under international law, it remains deeply entrenched in many countries and communities, often justified through religion, tradition, or poverty. But no cultural or economic rationale can excuse the lifelong harm caused.
Girls subjected to child marriage are:
The impact is even more severe for girls in rural or marginalised communities, and those living through conflict or displacement.
Progress is too slow, and setbacks are growing.
At Equality Now, we work to end child marriage by targeting its legal, systemic, and cultural drivers. Our efforts span:
We’re not just calling for change, we’re building it. Already this year, Equality Now and our partner, Unchained at Last, have helped drive change to reform child marriage laws in Maine, Oregon, and Washington, DC. And last year, we worked with our partners to contribute to efforts to ban child marriage in Colombia and in the US states of New Hampshire, Virginia, and Washington. Most recently, Bolivia became the latest country in Latin America and the Caribbean to approve a law setting the minimum age of marriage at 18, without exceptions.
Together, we can make childhood safe and equal.
This International Day of the Girl Child, we’re working with children’s and toy stores across the United States to amplify an important message: girls deserve to be kids and experience the joy that comes with play, not be married as children. Visit your participating store on Oct. 11 to receive special stickers and cards to mark the occasion.
Donate $5 or $10 in honour of a special woman, girl, or ally in your life.