Driving Progress for Adolescent Girls: Decreasing child marriage over the next five years

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action recognizes the reality of girls’ distinct experiences and cites child marriage as a driver of girls’ mortality, lack of access to education, and diminished economic opportunities in their future.

As a critical part of the Generation Equality process, the Action Coalition mechanisms must take into account this recognition through concerted attention to all girls, especially adolescent girls, and place a special focus on ending child marriage. Addressing GBV overall is critical for adolescent girls, and the prevention and response to child, early, and forced marriage is essential to ensuring their rights are fulfilled.