Child Brides participation at SARSYC

December 21, 2017

Child marriage is an issue that has contributed to the slow process of development in Africa and to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) now Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Africa over 39% of girls are married before they reach the age of 18, depriving them of their childhood, their rights to education, to health and to a life of their choosing. Education has been identified as crucial to ending child marriage as it empowers, protects and reduces the girl child’s vulnerability to marriage.

During the track/discussion that we recently hosted on ending child marriages at the Southern African Regional Students and Youth Conference on SRH (SARSYC)  it was highlighted that quality and consistency in educating the girl child is very important. In the heated discussion culture, policy formulation and implementation, multi-sectoral approach, social and economic empowerment of young girls where discussed as crucial components to ending child marriages.