UNGA Declares Nov 27 as Day to Eliminate Child Marriage; India Backs Resolution
The resolution adopted at the conclusion of the 18th session of the General Assembly
United Nations: The United Nations General Assembly on Friday unanimously approved a proposal to mark November 27 as the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early, and Forced Marriage, India backed the resolution was brought forward by Sierra Leone and co-sponsored by at least 66 other countries including Cabo Verde, Morocco, Costa Rica, Namibia, Rwanda, Sudan, and Afghanistan.
The resolution adopted at the conclusion of the 18th session of the General Assembly, calls for governments, UN organizations, civil society groups, and other parties to observe the day through public awareness campaigns, advocacy, and education efforts. It also encourages nations to implement holistic and multi-sectoral national strategies to abolish early marriage.
November 27 is also marked in India as ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Diwas’, a campaign that was launched in 2024.
Sierra Leone’s First Lady Dr Fatima Maada Bio, addressing the General Assembly, said the resolution was a “call to action” and a reminder to the international community of its “collective responsibility to protect childhood and defend the dignity and rights of every girl.” She noted that an international day “cannot by itself end child marriage, but political attention can, strong laws can, effective institutions can, education can… and above all, sustained political will can.”
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a post said the UN declaration would act as a global support for eliminating the vice, and shared a copy of the UN announcement with his post. The Assam government had launched its intensified crackdown against child marriage in 2023, during the first term of Sarma as chief minister.
