Women Leading Community Action to End Child Marriage in Benin

In the rural communities of Tabota and Manta in Boukombé Commune, Atacora Department, a community-based engagement brought together 189 women from local processing groups to address the root causes of child marriage and strengthen collective action to prevent it. Facilitated by M’PO IFONTI M’PO, Programme Officer at the Association of Tikonna Women’s Groups of Boukombé, the dialogue placed women at the centre of efforts to build a child-marriage-free future in Benin.

The engagement created a participatory space for women to openly examine the social, cultural, and economic factors that continue to drive child marriage in their communities. Through guided discussions, participants reflected on the harmful impacts of early marriage on girls’ health, education, wellbeing, and life opportunities, drawing from lived experiences and community realities.

A key concern raised during the discussions was the role of initiation ceremonies, during which girls aged 11 to 13 are sometimes forced into marriage. Participants highlighted how financial pressures linked to these ceremonies can push families toward early marriage, with future spouses expected to cover associated costs. By naming these practices, women collectively explored how tradition, poverty, and social expectations intersect and how they can be challenged through sustained community dialogue.

The session also reinforced the importance of women’s leadership in prevention efforts, recognising their influence within families, social networks, and local decision-making spaces. Participants emphasised the need for ongoing engagement with traditional leaders and customary chiefs to shift norms and protect girls from early and forced marriage in rural communities.

The engagement concluded with 37 women taking pledges to stand against child marriage and to continue raising awareness within their communities. Reflecting on the approach, the facilitator emphasised the value of these conversations, noting:

“Citizen discussions with women’s networks on child marriage are inclusive spaces that raise awareness and empower women to speak out and denounce the phenomenon within their communities.”

— M’PO IFONTI M’PO, Programme Officer, Association of Tikonna Women’s Groups of Boukombé

This community-led initiative underscored a core principle of Child Marriage Free World’s approach: lasting change begins when communities themselves lead the conversation, grounded in respect, local knowledge, and shared responsibility for protecting children’s rights.