Global Leaders Applaud India's Progress in Reducing Child Marriages

New York, Sep 26 (PTI) - A global civil society network, spearheaded by Indian rights activist Bhuwan Ribhu, has highlighted India's success in reducing child marriages through robust law enforcement. They called upon world leaders to intensify efforts in addressing children-related issues, particularly early marriages.

"By uniting as a global community, we can ensure child marriage and abuse are completely prosecuted and prevented, not only by legal systems but by society as a whole," stated Bhuwan Ribhu, founder of Just Rights for Children, the civil society network seeking to end sexual crimes against children through the rule of law.

On the sidelines of the high-level 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Just Rights for Children (JRC) convened global leaders for a side event, demonstrating best practices focusing on survivor voices. They reinforced the international commitment to eliminate child, early, and forced marriage by 2030.

JRC also unveiled its landmark report, 'Tipping Point to Zero: Evidence Towards a Child Marriage Free India,' revealing a significant decline in child marriages from 2022-23 to 2024-25 — a 69% decrease among girls and 72% among boys — attributed to effective law enforcement, grassroots awareness, and community engagement.

India’s achievements serve as a model for the world, with the report positioning the country on the verge of ending child marriage by 2030, bolstering global efforts to achieve a child marriage-free generation.

The JRC, one of India’s largest child protection networks comprising over 250 NGOs, also launched the 'Child Free Marriage Campaign' to establish the largest global civil society network aimed at ending child marriage, as per the statement.

Dr. Fatima Maada Bio was honored with the first ‘Champions of Change Award’ for her leadership in combating child marriage in Sierra Leone, commending her role in the enactment of the 2024 landmark Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, which prohibits marriage for anyone under 18.

Accepting the award, Maada Bio, First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone and President of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), dedicated it to all those who believe in a childhood free from fear and full of opportunities for every child.

Najat Maalla M’jid, United Nations Special Representative to the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, highlighted the persistent global issue of child marriage despite stringent laws.

"Tackling child marriage necessitates an approach addressing the intertwined factors such as poverty, women's economic empowerment, climate conflicts, and humanitarian crises that exacerbate child marriage rates during times of insecurity," she noted.

The event aimed to bolster enforcement and international cooperation to realize Sustainable Development Goal 5.3, focusing on eradicating harmful practices like child, early, and forced marriage, and female genital mutilation, with all SDGs targeted for completion by 2030.

From April 2023 to September 2025, JRC's network partners have thwarted or halted over 390,000 child marriages in India through intervention, legal measures, and community mobilization. Additionally, they rescued more than 105,000 children from trafficking and forced labor, the statement added.

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