A/HRC/RES/35/16
Strongly condemning attacks on and abductions of all girls, deploring all attacks,
including terrorist attacks, on educational institutions, their students and staff, and urging
States to protect them from attacks,
Recognizing that child, early and forced marriage constitutes a serious threat to the
full realization of the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical
and mental health of women and girls, including but not limited to their sexual and
reproductive health, significantly increasing the risk of early, frequent and unwanted
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, in humanitarian settings, which include humanitarian
emergencies, situations of forced displacement, armed conflict and natural disaster, preexisting human rights issues are further exacerbated and that new violations and abuses
arise in consequence of the crisis,
Noting with concern that the incidence and risk of child, early and forced marriage is
highly exacerbated in humanitarian settings by various factors, including insecurity, gender
inequality, increased risks of sexual and gender-based violence, breakdown of the rule of
law and State authority, the misconception of providing protection through marriage, the
use of forced marriage as a tactic in conflict, lack of access to education, the stigma of
pregnancy outside marriage, absence of family planning services, disruptions in social
networks and routines, increased poverty and the absence of livelihood opportunities,
Recognizing that ending child, early and forced marriage requires increased
attention, gender and age-sensitive approaches, appropriate protection, prevention and
response 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 emergencies, and recognizing also the importance of addressing the increased
vulnerability of women and girls to sexual and gender-based violence and sexual
exploitation and abuse in those situations,
1.
Recognizes that child, early and forced marriage constitutes a violation, abuse
or impairment of human rights and a harmful practice that prevents individuals from living
their lives free from all forms of violence, and that it has wide-ranging and adverse
consequences for the enjoyment of human rights, such as the right to education and the
right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including sexual and
reproductive health, and that every girl and woman at risk of or affected by these practices
must have equal access to quality education, counselling, shelter and other social services,
psychological, sexual and reproductive health-care services and medical care;
2.
Calls upon States, with the participation of relevant stakeholders, including
girls, women, religious and community leaders, civil society and human rights groups,
humanitarian actors, men and boys, and youth organizations, to develop and implement
holistic, comprehensive and coordinated responses, strategies and policies to prevent,
respond to and eliminate child, early and forced marriage, including in humanitarian
settings, and to support already married girls, adolescents and women, including through
the strengthening of child protection systems, protection mechanisms, such as safe shelters,
access to justice and legal remedies, and the sharing of best practices across borders, in full
compliance with international human rights obligations and commitments;
3.
Urges States to enact, enforce, harmonize and uphold laws and policies
aimed at preventing, responding to and eliminating child, early and forced marriage,
protecting those at risk, including in humanitarian settings, and supporting already married
women and girls, and to ensure that marriage is entered into only with the informed, free
and full consent of the intending spouses and that women have equality with men in all
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