Early marriage is a harmful practise that deprives girls of the ability to make important decisions about their sexual health and well-being. More than 22,000 girls are estimated to die each year as a result of pregnancy and childbirth caused by child marriage.

Child marriage is one of the most heinous and lethal forms of sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls. Every year, millions of women are forced into marriage with men who are often much older than them, depriving them of the opportunity to continue learning, to be children, and, in many cases, to survive.