A/RES/77/202 Child, early and forced marriage marriage places women and girls at greater risk of being exposed to and encountering various forms of discrimination and violence throughout their lives, including marital rape and sexual, physical and psychological violence, and reinforces the lower status of girls and adolescent girls in society, Recognizing also that child, early and forced marriage is a major impediment to the achievement of the economic empowerment of women and their social and economic development, including through the disproportionate share of unpaid care and domestic work shouldered by girls and women, thereby hampering the ability of women to enter, advance and remain in the labour market, and that this harmful practice can impede economic independence and impose direct and indirect short and long-term costs on society, and recognizing further that the economic autonomy of women can expand their options for leaving abusive and violent relationships, Recognizing further that child, early and forced marriage undermines women’s and girls’ autonomy and decision-making in all aspects of their lives and that the empowerment of and investment in all women and girls, as well as the strengthening of their voice, agency, leadership and full and meaningful participation in all decisions that affect them, are key factors in breaking the cycle of gender inequality and multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, violence and poverty and are critical, inter alia, for sustainable development, peace, security, democracy and inclusive economic growth, Bearing in mind the crucial importance of civil registration and vital statistics, including births, deaths and marriages, for the realization of the human rights of individuals, especially girls, Recognizing that men and boys, who also benefit from gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, should play a role as strategic partners and allies of women and girls, including by supporting women and girls at risk, and that their meaningful engagement can contribute to eliminating discriminatory social norms that perpetuate gender-based violence, as well as harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage, ending this practice and achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls and the full enjoyment of all their human rights, Recognizing also that families, communities and religious, traditional and community leaders have an essential role to play in eliminating negative social norms and harmful traditional or customary practices and confronting gender inequality, and recognizing further that empowering girls, including already married girls, requires their active and meaningful participation in decision-making processes in all matters affecting them and as agents of change in their own lives and communities, including through women’s organizations and girls-led organizations, with the active support and engagement of their parents, legal guardians, families and care providers, boys and men, as well as the wider community, Recognizing further the need to support girls and women who were subjected to child, early and forced marriage, as well as their children, and underscoring the importance of removing structural barriers that prevent their access to services that respond to their specific needs, Expressing deep concern that child, early and forced marriage disproportionally affects girls who have had minimal, disrupted or no access to formal and informal education and is itself a significant obstacle to educational opportunities and the development of employable and life skills for girls and young women, in particular girls who are forced to drop out of school owing to pregnancy, marriage, childbirth and/or childcare and other unpaid care and domestic work responsibilities, as well as stigma relating to menstruation, gender stereotypes and negative social norms that 4/13 22-28917