UN declares November 27 as the ‘International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage’

India has co-sponsored a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution proclaiming November 27 as the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage. The 193-member UNGA adopted the resolution by consensus on September 4, with the initiative led by Sierra Leone.

The resolution aims to raise global awareness about child, early and forced marriage and promote coordinated action to eliminate the practice. It calls upon governments, UN agencies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to observe the day through awareness campaigns, advocacy and educational programmes. It also encourages countries to adopt holistic and multi-sectoral national strategies to prevent and eliminate early marriage.

According to UNICEF, around 12 million girls are married before the age of 18 every year, while approximately 650 million women and girls alive today were married as children. The initiative was championed by Sierra Leone’s First Lady Fatima Maada Bio, following a call by Bhuwan Ribhu, founder of the civil society network Just Rights for Children.

International days designated by the UN are intended to raise public awareness, mobilise action and draw attention to issues of global concern.

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