Breaking Barriers: Addressing Child, Early and Forced Marriage in Eurasia

This report examines child, early, and forced marriages (CEFM) in seven Eurasian countries—Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—and uncovers persistent challenges and legal and policy issues that continue to drive this harmful practice. The report, which provides an in-depth analysis of the underlying causes, legal frameworks, and intervention strategies, is a call to action for policymakers and communities across the region.

The findings show that further legal reforms are needed, as child marriage remains deeply ingrained in these countries. The lack of accurate data collection, compounded by weak enforcement of existing laws and limited public awareness, makes it difficult to assess the precise scale of the problem.

What’s inside the report?

• The report provides an overview of the prevalence and practice of child, early, and forced marriage (CEFM) in the seven countries;
• Details related to national laws and policies and their implementation;
• The report outlines harms associated with CEFM and gives case studies;
• It recommends legal reforms, strategic approaches, and initiatives governments can implement to end CEFM

Who’s it for?

• Decision makers and policymakers in the region 
• Law enforcement and justice professionals 
• Non-governmental organizations in the countries of the report 
• Human right defenders
• International organizations 
• UN treaty body committees/ UN agencies
• Academics and law school students
• Media professionals reporting in and on the region

Key recommendations

1. Strengthen legal frameworks on child, early, and forced marriage
2. Raise the minimum legal age of marriage to 18 for both women and men without exceptions
3. Adopt a comprehensive, rights-based, gender-responsive Government Strategy and Action Plan and establish national monitoring systems
4. Put in place manuals and guidelines for law enforcement, judiciary, lawyers representing survivors, and professionals providing support services
5. Build capacity and train law enforcement, judiciary, lawyers representing survivors, and professionals providing support services
6. Improve data collection and research
7. Build social support networks and raise awareness