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On 25 September, on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly, Just Rights for Children convened a high-level side event on Creating a Child Marriage Free World: Building the Case for Prevention, Protection, and Prosecution.

The event was organised with the Office of H.E. Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone and President of OAFLAD, the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone, and the Government of Kenya, in partnership with the World Jurist Association, the Global Survivors Fund, and Jurists for Children Worldwide.

 

This convening was a call to the world that child marriage is a crime. It is child rape. With the force of law, its end is inevitable.

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"I do not dream only of a Sierra Leone free from child marriage. I dream of a world free from child marriage."

H.E. Dr. Fatima Maada Bio

First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone

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"The crisis of child marriage requires an approach that addresses the complex and interlinked factors including poverty, lack of women economic empowerment, climate conflicts, and humanitarian crisis that increase child marriage rates in times of insecurity."

Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid

Special Representative to the Secretary General on Violence Against Children

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"Child marriage is a grave violation of girls' human rights and a threat to the future of millions worldwide."

Ms. Carren Ageng’o

Principal Secretary, Children Services, Ministry for Gender, Culture and Children Services, Government of Kenya

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"Our vision is to see every girl who once survived conflict stand before the world not as a victim, but as a lawyer, a doctor, a survivor, and an advocate."

Dr. Fatima Akilu

Executive Director, Neem Foundation

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"Child marriage has no place in our society. The laws alone are not enough. We must also challenge norms and expectations that continue to make girls more vulnerable."

Mr. Åsmund Aukrust

Minister of International Development, Government of Norway

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"Children are society’s most vulnerable. Their dignity must be protected. Nations must build awareness and adopt stronger models to safeguard it effectively."

Mr. Javier Cremades

​President, World Jurist Association

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​"For the first time, at scale, it has been proven that prosecution can work. It does work."

Sir Christopher Hohn

Founder and Chairman of the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation Board

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"Impunity is the oxygen in which these crimes survive. Prosecution is the antidote."

Ms. Kerry Kennedy

President, RFK Human Rights

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"Every girl forced into child marriage is one too many. It’s time to turn words into action together. Governments, international organizations, civil society, and individuals must unite with urgency and resolve. No more delays. No more silence. The time to end child marriage is now."

Dr. Kirsi Madi

Deputy Executive Director, UN Women

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"Prosecution is not 
backward-looking accountability but forward-looking prevention, and we recognise that every child protected today is a citizen empowered for tomorrow."

Mr. Bhuwan Ribhu

Founder, Just Rights for Children

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"Ending child marriage is a public health issue, a justice issue, and an equality issue, as millions of girls around the world are being forced into marriages without their consent."

Ms. Isabelle Rome

Ambassador At Large for Human Rights, Government of France

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"Raise champions in your own communities, because we must protect our children."

Hon. Millie Odhiambo

Member of Parliament and Minority Whip National Assembly of Kenya

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© 2026 Just Rights for Children

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