Forced marriage exposes girls to violence and sexual abuse, and the consequences for their psychological, educational and health are irreparable. In some countries, complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the main cause of mortality among adolescents between 15 and 19 years of age.

Niger remains the country with the highest rate of child marriage in the world: 134 million girls will be forced into marriage between 2018 and 2030. In 2030 alone, almost 10 million girls will be married, and more than 2 million of these marriages will involve girls under 15 years of age. These figures are alarming.

Education is the most effective solution to forced marriage

If all girls in the world completed secondary education, more than 50 million forced marriages would be avoided by 2030. This is according to our latest study “Working together to end child marriage”.

The toxic combination of poverty and gender discrimination means that many families believe that it is better for their daughters to become wives and mothers rather than have access to education​

Forced marriage of girls is one of the main causes of school dropouts in developing countries, and at the same time, girls who are out of school are at high risk of being victims of this practice.

Many young girls live in unsafe environments and their parents have the mistaken idea that marrying will protect them from violence or the stigma of having a relationship or becoming pregnant outside of marriage.

We have analysed the impact that education can have on the lives of girls globally, as well as the progress that is still needed to end child marriage and guarantee the education of young girls. This study is a call to action for world leaders to prioritise programmes for access to education and protection of girls, and in turn to end forced marriage for the millions of girls who suffer it every year.

While legal reforms and political measures are important to end child marriage and to keep girls in school, it is essential that the changes reach the families and communities where these girls live.

Our research on forced child marriage reveals that:

• Although approximately 25 million child marriages have been prevented in the past 10 years, no developing country is currently on track to meet the UN target of eliminating the practice by 2030.
• 134 million girls will be forced into marriage between 2018 and 2030. Nearly 10 million girls will be married in 2030 alone, and more than 2 million of these marriages will involve girls under the age of 15.
• In the past year, 21% of young women aged 20-24 were married or in informal unions before they turned 18.
• Niger remains the country with the highest rate of child marriage in the world.

• When a girl is forced into marriage, her human rights are being denied and violated for life. She will be exposed to abuse, to becoming a mother before she is emotionally and psychologically ready, and her children will be more likely to die before reaching the age of five.