It was rewarding to attend the 2nd Global Meeting of Girls Not Brides: Global Partnership to End Child Marriage during 25-27 June in Kuala Lumpur. There were around 500 participants from 74 countries, which included representatives from community based organizations, NGOs, UN agencies, institutional donors and private foundations. The meeting was intended by Girls Not Brides as a place for members of the partnership to connect, learn, inspire, and to align efforts to end child marriage. There were sessions on legal and policy aspects, social norms, integrated programming, advocacy etc.
Progress has been made in reducing child marriage in different parts of the world. Still, approximately 650 million girls and women alive today were married before their 18th birthday. Child marriage is not going to end by 2030 if the present pace is being continued. Accelerated efforts are required.
Child marriage is a gender equality issue. Patriarchal system gives disproportionate emphasis on care and reproductive role of girls/women (making their lives revolve around marriage), and control their sexuality. This unacceptable practice will not end until we change this. Are we courageous enough to challenge patriarchy and achieve gender equality so that girls/women can exercise their rights fully? Are we committed enough to end child marriage-a practice that violate the rights of girl children and do not let them realize their full human potential?
