FAQs About Child Marriage

Together with brands, couples, wedding industry professionals, and everyday supporters, we are growing a global movement to end child marriage. But what is child marriage? Here are some FAQs about child marriage and how you can support VOW in helping girls around the world choose love on their own terms:

Marriages that occur before a girl is 18-years-old — 18 is the universally accepted beginning of “adulthood.”  Unfortunately, the vast majority of child marriages impact girls.

12 million girls a year. That’s 1 girl every 3 seconds.

Child marriage is a global issue cutting across countries, cultures, and religions. In order to have the biggest impact on ending child marriage, we currently focus on the regions where the prevalence is highest and the need is greatest.

At its core, child marriage occurs because of gender inequality – girls are not valued as much as boys. In addition, poverty, social norms, natural disasters, climate change, and violence all drive child marriage.

Child marriage affects girls overall wellbeing.

COVID-19 has exacerbated many of the complex factors that drive child marriage, including loss of household income, higher risk of domestic violence, and lack of access to schooling. This could lead to an estimated 10 million additional girls becoming brides over the next decade.

There isn’t one single solution. We must understand the drivers behind it and be adaptable in supporting various locally-led solutions.

Join VOW for Girls’ growing global movement to end the international child marriage crisis. 100% of the funds raised from partners and the public are invested in effective but underfunded local efforts that advance girls’ rights.

To end child marriage by building a connected groundswell of love and support for every girl whose right to own her future is at risk.

A world where no child is ever a bride.

VOW for Girls is a growing global movement that partners with the wedding industry, engaged couples, brands, and individuals to end the international child marriage crisis. Count to three. A child just became a bride. By raising funds and awareness, VOW is ending child marriage by building a connected groundswell of love and support for every girl whose right to own her future is at risk.

100% of the funds raised by VOW for Girls are invested in underfunded yet effective local efforts that advance girls’ rights by providing education, job training, and vital life skills, so girls can own their futures. VOW for Girls is a vow for the future.

Of the 175+ organizations supported to date, 85% are led by women. An estimated 260,000 girls have been directly impacted by this work to date and 1.6 million individuals have indirectly benefited. Follow @vowforgirls to learn more about VOW!

Header photo credit: Ed Kashi/ Talking Eyes Media