UN declares November 27 International Day to end child marriage

The United Nations General Assembly has declared November 27 every year as the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage, in a landmark move aimed at accelerating global efforts to end the practice.

The historic resolution was championed by Sierra Leone’s First Lady and President of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, alongside Bhuwan Ribhu, founder of Just Rights for Children.

The establishment of the international day is expected to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals while providing a dedicated global platform to strengthen efforts to protect children, particularly girls, and improve access to education and healthcare.

The campaign for the creation of an international day against child marriage was initiated by Ribhu, founder of Just Rights for Children, a global network working to protect children from violence, exploitation and sexual abuse.

Speaking at the Commission on the Status of Women in March 2026, Ribhu said the proposed international day would serve as a global reminder of the need for accountability and coordinated action by governments, civil society organisations, faith leaders, schools, communities and children.

The initiative received strong political backing from Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, who led efforts to build international support for the resolution and advance the campaign before the global community.

The adoption of the resolution by the 193-member United Nations General Assembly marks a major milestone in the global campaign against child marriage and reflects growing international recognition of the practice as a crime and a form of child sexual abuse.