UN declares day to fight child marriage worldwide
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Sierra Leone and Just Rights for Children advocated for the United Nations to establish November 27 as International Day to Eliminate Child Marriage, and the UN confirmed the date.
Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone, addressed the UN General Assembly after the resolution passed, urging global commitment to protecting children’s rights. She emphasized that laws alone are not enough and that Sierra Leone has fully implemented its 2024 legislation banning the practice.
The UN resolution encourages governments, organizations, and communities to raise awareness about child marriage through education and advocacy. It also asks nations to create plans to end early marriage within their borders. Globally, an estimated 640 to 650 million women currently alive were married as children.
Despite existing laws and agreements, child marriage continues, and advocates like Bhuwan Ribhu of Just Rights for Children and Amanda Austin of Girls Not Brides are now calling for governments to fund action plans and address the inequalities that allow the practice to continue. Girls Not Brides noted that ending child marriage requires investment in education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for girls.
