Strategies
The long-term goal (2016-2020) is to support the creation of child marriage-free communities in which girls and young women are free to decide if, when and whom to marry. The six intervention strategies are based on evidence, which shows that the most consistent results of targeting child marriages are achieved by fostering information, skills and networks for girls in combination with community mobilisation. Therefore, strategies focus on both areas.
Strategy 1: Investing in girls
Investing in girls, their knowledge, skills related to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and participation in society: enhancing their comprehension of the negative effects of child marriage and of alternative options.
Strategy 2: Keeping girls in school
Keeping girls in school: improving access to formal education for girls by supporting girl-friendly schools and building knowledge through schooling in general, and on SRHR in particular.
Strategy 3: Improving access to youth-friendly SRHR services for girls
Improving access to youth-friendly SRHR services for girls: improving health services and by actively referring girls to health workers.
Strategy 4: Strengthening the economic security of girls and their families
Strengthening the economic security of girls and their families: creating and supporting women’s self-help groups with training and access to (financial) resources.
Strategy 5: Transforming social norms and traditional practices
Families arranging marriages between daughters and sons at an early age, regarding girls as financial burden or source of income and giving priority to the education of sons, the taboo on premarital sex and therefore marrying off girls when they get into puberty: social norms and traditional practices play a major role in the continued existence of child marriage.
Strategy 6: Creating an enabling legal and policy environment
Creating an enabling legal and policy environment on preventing child marriage: supporting traditional leaders and (local) authorities to enforce national policies on preventing child marriage.
