Creating a Child Marriage Free World at UNGA80

On the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), leaders, jurists, survivor advocates and global partners came together for a side event titled Creating a Child Marriage Free World: Building the Case for Prevention, Protection and Prosecution.

Convened by Just Rights International in partnership with the Office of H.E. Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone and President of OAFLAD, the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone, and the Government of Kenya, the event also brought together the World Jurist Association, the Global Survivors Fund, and Jurists for Children Worldwide. It built on growing momentum to ensure that ending child marriage is treated as both a legal and moral responsibility shared by governments and communities worldwide.

Speakers highlighted that ending child marriage requires leadership, coordination and accountability. H.E. Dr. Fatima Maada Bio reminded participants that where there is political will and courage, laws can change and children’s lives can be transformed. She called on leaders everywhere to use the law, their platforms and their influence to protect children from abuse and early marriage.

Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, stressed that addressing child marriage means tackling the root causes that make children vulnerable. She pointed to poverty, lack of women’s economic empowerment, conflict and humanitarian crises as factors that heighten the risk. She urged governments to ensure laws are enforced, justice is accessible and impunity is not tolerated.

From Norway, Mr. Åsmund Aukrust, Minister of International Development, emphasised the importance of strong laws that are fairly enforced. Ms. Kerry Kennedy, President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, called on global leaders to ensure that laws work as living tools for protecting children, not only as ideals on paper.

The discussion also featured insights from UN Women, the Government of France, Kenya’s Ministry for Gender, Culture and Children Services, and members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, alongside contributions from civil society leaders and survivor advocates from Africa and Asia. Their reflections underscored the power of survivor-led action and the importance of linking community efforts with national reform.

The event closed with a shared commitment to prevention, protection and prosecution. A short video from the Global Interfaith Weekend to End Child Marriage reminded participants that communities around the world are already taking action, using dialogue, faith and collaboration to protect children’s rights.

Together, these conversations at UNGA80 strengthened the global call for a child marriage free world where every child can grow, learn and build a future free from early marriage.