Africa: From 44 Countries, One Shared Commitment - a Child Marriage-Free World

What the report says

A global Catholic network representing 44 countries has endorsed a campaign led by Just Rights for Children to help end child marriage by 2030, according to Inter Press Service’s report distributed by AllAfrica. The commitment was announced in Rome on 22 October and framed by organizers as a call for faith leaders to put children’s safety, education and dignity ahead of traditions used to justify early marriage.

The article says the Global Catholic Congress signed a joint pledge to support prevention efforts and to mobilize Catholic communities across several regions, including Africa, Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. JRC founder Bhuwan Ribhu said religious leaders can influence families and communities where marriage decisions are often made. Global Catholic Congress president Rajeev Kochuparambil described ending child marriage as a shared moral responsibility.

The report places the pledge in a wider context of persistent child marriage worldwide. It cites UNICEF figures showing that about 640 million women and girls alive in 2023 had married as children, with roughly one in five young women aged 20 to 24 married before 18. Progress has been made, but not quickly enough to meet the 2030 target. The story also notes that child marriage can cut short schooling, limit independence and deepen gender inequality, especially for girls in poorer or rural communities.

JRC says its approach combines community outreach, support for vulnerable families and intervention when an underage marriage appears imminent, including legal action if needed. The article also notes that the UN General Assembly recently created an annual International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage, underscoring continued international attention to the issue.