Child, early and forced marriage
A/RES/71/175
empowerment of and investment in women and girls, as well as their meaningful
participation in all decisions that affect them, are key factors in breaking the cycle
of gender inequality and discrimination, violence and poverty and are critical, inter
alia, for sustainable development, peace, security, democracy and inclusive
economic growth,
Recognizing also that raising awareness of the harmful consequences of child,
early and forced marriage, including among men and boys, can contribute to
promoting social norms that support efforts by girls and their families to end this
harmful practice,
Recognizing further men and boys as strategic partners and allies and that their
meaningful engagement can contribute to transforming discriminatory social norms
that perpetuate child, early and forced marriage, ending this practice and achieving
gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls,
Noting with concern that child, early and forced marriage disproportionally
affects girls who have received little or no formal education and is itself a
significant obstacle to educational opportunities for girls and young women, in
particular girls who are forced to drop out of school owing to marriage, pregnancy,
childbirth and/or childcare responsibilities, and recognizing that educational
opportunities are directly related to the empowerment of women and girls, their
employment and economic opportunities and their active participation in economic,
social and cultural development, governance and decision-making,
Recognizing that child, early and forced marriage constitutes a serious threat to
multiple aspects of the physical and psychological health of women and girls,
including but not limited to their sexual and reproductive health, significantly
increasing the risk of early, frequent and unintended pregnancy, maternal and
newborn mortality and morbidity, obstetric fistula and sexually transmitted
infections, including HIV/AIDS, as well as increasing vulnerability to all forms of
violence,
Recognizing also that the incidence and risk of child, early and forced
marriage can increase during humanitarian emergencies, situations of forced
displacement, armed conflict and natural disaster and that this requires increased
attention, appropriate protection measures and coordinated action by relevant
stakeholders, with the full and meaningful participation of the women and girls
affected, from the early stages of humanitarian e mergencies, and recognizing further
the importance of addressing the increased vulnerability of women and girls to
sexual and gender-based violence and exploitation in those situations,
1.
Calls upon States, with the participation of relevant stakeholder s,
including women and girls, parents and other family members, religious, traditional
and community leaders, civil society, organizations led by girls, women’s
organizations, youth and human rights groups, men and boys, the media and the
private sector, to develop and implement holistic, comprehensive and coordinated
responses and strategies to eliminate child, early and forced marriage, to support
girls and women who are at risk or have been subjected to this practice, including
through the strengthening of child protection systems, protection mechanisms such
as safe shelters, access to justice and the sharing of best practices across borders;
2.
Also calls upon States to enact, enforce and uphold laws and policies
aimed at preventing and ending child, early and forced marriage and protecting
those at risk, to ensure that marriage is entered into only with the informed, free and
full consent of the intending spouses and to amend relevant laws and policies to
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