Campaigns to End Child Marriage Gaining Momentum

While resurgent support for international family planning may be stealing the headlines this month, progress is also being made in efforts to end child marriage.  In recent years, a number of new initiatives have been launched. The Elders, a group of global leaders working together for peace and human rights, have launched Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage.  The Elders is led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who serves as the Chair.  In addition, the United Nations Foundation has put considerable resources into the Girl Up campaign, which seeks to build grassroots support in the U.S. for programs aimed at curbing child marriage practices.  It seeks, by October 11, 2013, to enlist 500,000 Americans in their campaign.  To date, Girl Up is nearly halfway (235,000) towards that goal.  Progress is even being made in Congress; the U.S. Senate recently approved a bill, offered by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), which would require the U.S. government to develop a long-term strategy to address child marriage.

http://www.mediaglobal.org/2012/06/20/girls-backed-by-the-un-take-a-stand-against-child-marriage/