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.
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. Our programs 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.
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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.
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About the Author
WILLIAM RYERSON, MPHIL
As President and Founder of PMC, Bill represents the organization in various capacities, including speaking engagements, outreach to donor institutions and individuals, and helping to set the direction for PMC. He has a half-century of experience working in the field of reproductive health, including three decades of experience adapting the Sabido Methodology of Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) to various cultural settings worldwide.
Bill has appeared on outlets like CNN, PBS, and BBC and has been a featured speaker at conferences around the world on sustainable population, sexual and reproductive health, women and girls’ rights, and global sustainability. Bill and Population Media Center have been featured in articles around the world, including the New York Times, The Guardian, NPR, and Conservation Magazine. At the invitation of the Director General, Bill spoke at the UN Geneva Headquarters. You can read one of Bill’s Op-Eds in The Hill.
Previously, Bill served as director of the Population Institute’s Youth and Student Division, Development Director of Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania, Associate Director of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, and Executive Vice President of Population Communications International before founding PMC in 1998. Since 2008, Bill has chaired the board of the Population Institute in Washington, D.C., which works in partnership with PMC.
