The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 27 of each year as the “International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage” by adopting a resolution.
The resolution, numbered A/80/L.99, was adopted on Friday, September 4, 2026, by the 193-member United Nations General Assembly. The initiative was proposed by Sierra Leone and supported by a number of countries, including Afghanistan, India, Rwanda, Morocco, and Costa Rica.
The purpose of designating this day is to raise global awareness about the consequences of child, early, and forced marriage, strengthen support for children’s rights—particularly the rights of girls—and encourage governments and civil society organizations to take effective measures to prevent and end the practice.
According to United Nations reports, child marriage remains a serious human rights and social challenge around the world. According to information from the United Nations Population Fund, approximately 640 million women and girls currently living were married during childhood.
The UN decision comes after years of efforts by child rights organizations and activists working to combat child marriage. Fatima Maada Bio, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, welcomed the adoption of the resolution and described it as a call for global action to protect children and defend the rights and dignity of girls.
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