Child, early, and forced marriage and unions (CEFMU) affects millions of girls globally. It deprives them of education, autonomy, health, and future opportunities. Often justified under the guise of culture, religion, poverty, or traditional gender norms, CEFMU is a human rights violation that must end.
Girls subjected to child and forced marriage are often exposed to violence, face increased risk of early pregnancy and maternal mortality, and are typically denied access to education and economic opportunity. These impacts are particularly acute for girls living in rural or marginalized communities, or in contexts affected by conflict or displacement .
International and regional human rights instruments are unequivocal: CEFMU must end. Key frameworks include:
Additionally, instruments such as the Maputo Protocol and joint General Comments from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights further affirm 18 as the non-negotiable minimum age for marriage without exceptions.
Child marriage is not confined to one region, and takes place all over the globe. Some of the diverse contexts in which Equality Now is working to address child marriage include:
Despite differences in context, the result is often the same: girls left vulnerable, at higher risk of sexual and domestic violence, and excluded from systems meant to protect them.
Equality Now uses legal advocacy to protect and empower girls globally, ensuring national laws align with international standards. Our work focuses on:
Our advocacy is shaped by the voices and experiences of survivors, and our strategies are adapted to reflect regional realities, from supporting legislative reform to amplifying efforts of grassroots partners across Africa, the Americas, Eurasia, and the Middle East.
