As we delve into the findings of the UNICEF 2023 Child Marriage report, we are faced with both encouraging progress and sobering realities regarding child marriage worldwide. Today, I want to share my thoughts on the report’s insights and the urgent need to tackle child marriage head-on.
Progress and Setbacks
The report reveals a complex landscape, where progress and challenges coexist. In high-income households globally, there is heartening progress, with reduced rates of child marriage among girls.
South Asia stands out, making significant strides by decreasing child marriage rates from 60% in 1997 to 25% in 2022. Sub-Saharan Africa also witnessed a decrease from 45% to approximately 26% during the same period. However, the report highlights a lack of significant progress in other regions, demanding our immediate attention.
640million
girls and women alive today were married in childhood.
300years
At the current pace, the world is atleast 300 years away from ending child marriage.
10million
girls will become child brides by 2030 because of COVID-19 pandemic impacts.
The Impact of External Factors
It’s crucial to acknowledge the external factors that exacerbate child marriage rates in various regions. The COVID-19 pandemic, armed conflicts, and climate change have intensified the vulnerability of girls to early marriage in many countries. These challenges have, in some cases, reversed the progress we have worked so hard to achieve.
A Daunting Reality
The most sobering revelation from the report is the time it will take to eliminate child marriage at current rates of progress. If we continue on this trajectory, it will take 300 years to eradicate this harmful practice. To meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and eliminate child marriage by 2030, we need a 20-fold increase in the rate of decline. The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated.
Promising Examples
Amidst the challenges, we find glimmers of hope in countries like India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Maldives, and Rwanda. These nations illustrate that progress is possible across diverse settings. Common threads include improvements in economic development, poverty reduction, access to employment, and secondary-level education. These examples provide a blueprint for others to follow.
Regions in Need
We must acknowledge the regions that have stalled in their efforts to combat child marriage. West and Central Africa, with the highest prevalence of child marriage, have made little progress over the last 25 years. Latin America and the Caribbean are facing gaps across socioeconomic groups, underscoring the entrenched nature of the practice among the poor.
The Urgency of the Moment
At Population Media Center, we recognize the urgency of addressing child marriage and its far-reaching consequences. We are committed to playing a pivotal role in tackling this issue through the power of entertainment and education. Our approach involves creating compelling and culturally relevant media content, including radio and television shows, that aim to change social norms and behaviors related to child marriage.
By telling stories that resonate with local audiences, we engage communities in thought-provoking discussions and encourage them to question and challenge the practice of child marriage. Ourprograms not only raise awareness but also provide information on the importance of education, gender equality, and the rights of girls. Through these efforts, we strive to empower individuals, families, and communities to reject child marriage and work towards a future where every girl can realize her full potential. Together with our partners, we believe that media can be a powerful catalyst for change, offering hope for a world where child marriage becomes a thing of the past.
PMC Projects At The Forefront Of Child Marriage
Rope Guna Fal
This 104-episode radio show will air through 2022 across Nepal.
Rope Guna Fal will be the third project collaboration between PMC and Antenna Foundation Nepal (AFN). Acting together with UNICEF and The Kendeda Foundation, this year-long radio program will address parenting practices, child marriage, sexual reproductive health, child marriage, and other social issues.
Nepal has committed to eliminating child marriage by 2030 as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. According to research by Girls Not Brides, 40% of Nepalese girls are married before they turn 18. By incorporating parent education and child marriage storylines into Rope Guna Fal, PMC and other contributing partners will move the needle on the attitudes and actions that contribute to the harmful practice.
As with all PMC radio shows, Rope Guna Falwas created using PMC’s radio show methodology.
Acting together, the Ethiopian Government and United Nations Fund set life-changing objectives for Ethiopians. One of their goals was to achieve zero tolerance for female genital mutilation (FGM) by 2024. They also aimed to increase the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) among women of reproductive age. To support these goals, PMC-Ethiopia strategically designed and launched Nekakat (“Cracked”). This radio show was purposefully created to educate and entertain listeners, serving as a crucial component of a nationwide communications campaign focused on these critical issues.
At scale and by popular demand, Kwishilya (“Over the Horizon”) provides more people more power to change their lives and communities for the better — especially women and girls. The first season of Kwishilya reached an estimated 659,440 weekly listeners, enabling more women to plan their families and allowing more girls to walk into the classroom. Kwishilya lays the groundwork for planet-positive behavior changes.
View Project
Rope Guna Fal
Nepal
Project Duration:
2021-2022
This 104-episode radio show will air through 2022 across Nepal.
Rope Guna Fal will be the third project collaboration between PMC and Antenna Foundation Nepal (AFN). Acting together with UNICEF and The Kendeda Foundation, this year-long radio program will address parenting practices, child marriage, sexual reproductive health, child marriage, and other social issues.
Nepal has committed to eliminating child marriage by 2030 as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. According to research by Girls Not Brides, 40% of Nepalese girls are married before they turn 18. By incorporating parent education and child marriage storylines into Rope Guna Fal, PMC and other contributing partners will move the needle on the attitudes and actions that contribute to the harmful practice.
As with all PMC radio shows, Rope Guna Falwas created using PMC’s radio show methodology.
A Call to Action
As we reflect on the UNICEF report’s findings, we must recognize that ending child marriage is not only a moral imperative but also an economic and social imperative. The burden of child marriage extends beyond adolescence, affecting a girl’s education, earning potential, and overall well-being.
We cannot afford to wait any longer. We need to accelerate our efforts, learn from successful examples, and implement policies and programs that address the root causes of child marriage. It’s time for governments, organizations, communities, and individuals to unite in a concerted effort to make child marriage a relic of the past.
Join us in our mission to put an end to child marriage and create a brighter future for girls around the world. Your support can make a real difference. Every donation brings us one step closer to achieving our goal of eliminating this harmful practice by 2030. By contributing, you empower us to continue creating impactful media content, raising awareness, and driving positive change in communities affected by child marriage. Together, we can give every girl the opportunity to lead a life of freedom, education, and empowerment. Together, we can make child marriage a thing of the past.
