Despite global efforts to end child marriage, approximately 12 million girls under 18 are married each year. Six of the 10 countries with the highest prevalence of child marriage in the world are in West and Central Africa.
This report from Save the Children focuses on the results of a study in Niger, Sierra Leone, and Cote d’Ivoire to assess the role of educating young girls in preventing child marriage.
The report discusses the drivers of child marriage, and the role of girls’ education in preventing child marriage and empowering married young women.
Key recommendations from the report include the following:
- Support adolescent girls to reach positive learning outcomes and continue their education.
- Provide learning opportunities for married adolescent girls.
- Empower adolescent girls to manage their sexual and reproductive health and avoid unintended pregnancy.
- Address underlying drivers of child marriage and school drop-out by changing inequitable gender norms.
To access the report, go to: https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/node/17329/pdf/child_marriage_2019_en.pdf [1]