International Day of the Girl Child: Global calls to end child marriage

On the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child, various organizations and advocates are calling for increased protection and investment in the rights of girls globally.

In Lesotho, Nomsa George, the WAGGGS Global Advocacy Champion for 2026, is leading the ‘Her Voice, Her Justice’ campaign to combat child marriage, sexual violence, and exploitation. In Haiti, the Solidarité des Femmes Haïtiennes Journalistes (SOFEHJ) has urged authorities to address gender inequalities and promote girls' access to STEM fields, noting that approximately 15% of girls in Haiti are married before age 18.

Global advocates emphasize that over 12 million girls are married annually, a practice that denies them education and health security. Meanwhile, in Niger, UNICEF organized intergenerational dialogues to connect adolescent girls with experienced female entrepreneurs, journalists, and politicians to encourage financial empowerment and professional resilience.