Preventing and Responding to Child, Early, Forced Marriage and Unions Technical Guidance 2021

Child, early, forced marriage and unions (CEFMU) is a severe violation of human rights and results in threats to children’s immediate and long-term wellbeing. As a child rights organisation dedicated to ensuring all children have an equal opportunity to survive, learn, and live free from violence, Save the Children recognises that urgent action is required to prevent and respond to CEFMU. We are committed to defending the rights of children who are most impacted by discrimination and inequality, and we prioritise advancing gender equality, supporting girls’ empowerment, and ending all forms of gender-based violence, including CEFMU.

The development of the CEFMU guidance has been led by the Child, Early, Forced Marriage and Unions Technical Working Group in consultation with over 500 colleagues from across the movement. The technical guidance sets Save the Children’s framework and theory of change on preventing and responding to CEFMU. It has been designed to be used by program, policy & advocacy, communication and fundraising staff and includes:

• Discussion of drivers and consequences of CEFMU
• Guiding Principles in working to prevent and respond to CEFMU
• Gender and Power (GAP) analysis for CEFMU
• Theory of Change
• Key indicators
• Policy Position  
• Guidance for advocacy and campaigns strategy design
• A suite of resources to translate knowledge into practice, including examples from Save the Children’s experiences preventing and responding to CEFMU, theme-specific and communications guidance, illustrative policy recommendations, and additional resources