Children Rights / UN Declares Nov 27 as International Day for Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage; India's Campaign Recognised
·1 hour ago·4 min read
Key Points
The United Nations declared November 27 as the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage, coinciding with the launch of India's 'Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat' campaign in 2024.
New Delhi, Sep 10: India’s efforts to eliminate child marriage have received international recognition, with the United Nations declaring November 27 the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage.
The date has particular significance for India as it marks the launch of the Government of India’s ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ campaign in 2024.
The international push for a dedicated global day was initiated by Just Rights for Children (JRC) founder Bhuwan Ribhu. During an address at the United Nations in March 2026, Ribhu reiterated the call for a UN resolution in the presence of international leaders, including Sierra Leone First Lady Dr Fatima Maada Bio, who also supported the initiative.
Resolution Backed By 67 Countries
Sierra Leone subsequently led the effort at the UN General Assembly, backed by 67 countries, including India, by presenting a resolution seeking to designate November 27 as a global day dedicated to ending child marriage.
The date has particular significance for India as it marks the launch of the Government of India’s ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ campaign in 2024.
The international push for a dedicated global day was initiated by Just Rights for Children (JRC) founder Bhuwan Ribhu. During an address at the United Nations in March 2026, Ribhu reiterated the call for a UN resolution in the presence of international leaders, including Sierra Leone First Lady Dr Fatima Maada Bio, who also supported the initiative.
Resolution Backed By 67 Countries
Sierra Leone subsequently led the effort at the UN General Assembly, backed by 67 countries, including India, by presenting a resolution seeking to designate November 27 as a global day dedicated to ending child marriage.
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The United Nations adopted the resolution on September 4. During the presentation, Dr Fatima Maada Bio made a special mention of JRC in the UN Hall.
Ribhu was present with the UN delegation during the adoption of the resolution and was the only civil society representative present, according to JRC.
Welcoming the declaration, Ribhu said, “India is the Vishwaguru of child protection today.”
He said the Child Marriage Free India campaign began with children and communities before receiving government support and being scaled up nationally. More than 25 crore people took a pledge on Nov. 27, 2024, he said.
“It is a moment of great pride for all Indians, and I would like to congratulate and thank the children, the community leaders, the faith leaders, and especially my NGO partners whose hard work and dedication made today possible,” Ribhu said.
He also thanked the Government of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi for what he described as their leadership and commitment to the campaign.
Ribhu was present with the UN delegation during the adoption of the resolution and was the only civil society representative present, according to JRC.
Welcoming the declaration, Ribhu said, “India is the Vishwaguru of child protection today.”
He said the Child Marriage Free India campaign began with children and communities before receiving government support and being scaled up nationally. More than 25 crore people took a pledge on Nov. 27, 2024, he said.
“It is a moment of great pride for all Indians, and I would like to congratulate and thank the children, the community leaders, the faith leaders, and especially my NGO partners whose hard work and dedication made today possible,” Ribhu said.
He also thanked the Government of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi for what he described as their leadership and commitment to the campaign.
“The world is looking at us, and our work has only just begun,” he said.
India Reports Decline In Child Marriage
National data cited by JRC also indicate a decline in child marriage among women aged 20-24.
According to the 2019-21 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 23.3% of women in this age group were married before turning 18. The figure stood at 20.1% in NFHS-6 (2023-24).
The Government of India has set a target of reducing the prevalence of child marriage by 10% by 2026. JRC said continued efforts at the national and state levels are expected to bring the prevalence below 15% by the end of 2026.
The global target of eliminating child marriage by 2030 is aligned with Target 5.3 of the Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality, which calls for an end to harmful practices, including child, early and forced marriage.
Also Read: GARIMA Scheme Brings Dignity: Odisha’s First Woman Desludger Breaks Barriers
Campaign Expands Beyond India
The campaign has also expanded internationally. Inspired by ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’, the ‘Child Marriage Free Nepal’ campaign was launched in December 2024 through the efforts of JRC.
The movement has since expanded to more than 99 countries, with more than 250 million people taking pledges to work towards ending child marriage in their communities and countries, according to JRC.
Between December 2025 and March 2026, JRC also conducted the 100-day ‘Child Marriage Free World’ campaign, which sought to engage governments across 100 countries and reach one lakh schools.
The organisation said experiences and recommendations from the campaign were subsequently taken to international platforms, including the United Nations, to support stronger and more coordinated global action.
JRC Network Works Across 782 Districts
JRC describes itself as one of the world’s largest child protection networks and is leading the Child Marriage Free World campaign through law, accountability and collective action.
In India, its partner organisations work with governments and law-enforcement agencies across 782 districts, bringing together communities, schools, panchayats, women, faith leaders, police, political representatives and vulnerable populations.
The network conducts village-level awareness campaigns and public pledge drives, besides intervening to prevent child marriages.
JRC said its partners have stopped or prevented more than 5,50,000 child marriages in India, which it cited as evidence of the role of government, civil society and communities in preventing the practice.
India Reports Decline In Child Marriage
National data cited by JRC also indicate a decline in child marriage among women aged 20-24.
According to the 2019-21 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 23.3% of women in this age group were married before turning 18. The figure stood at 20.1% in NFHS-6 (2023-24).
The Government of India has set a target of reducing the prevalence of child marriage by 10% by 2026. JRC said continued efforts at the national and state levels are expected to bring the prevalence below 15% by the end of 2026.
The global target of eliminating child marriage by 2030 is aligned with Target 5.3 of the Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality, which calls for an end to harmful practices, including child, early and forced marriage.
Also Read: GARIMA Scheme Brings Dignity: Odisha’s First Woman Desludger Breaks Barriers
Campaign Expands Beyond India
The campaign has also expanded internationally. Inspired by ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’, the ‘Child Marriage Free Nepal’ campaign was launched in December 2024 through the efforts of JRC.
The movement has since expanded to more than 99 countries, with more than 250 million people taking pledges to work towards ending child marriage in their communities and countries, according to JRC.
Between December 2025 and March 2026, JRC also conducted the 100-day ‘Child Marriage Free World’ campaign, which sought to engage governments across 100 countries and reach one lakh schools.
The organisation said experiences and recommendations from the campaign were subsequently taken to international platforms, including the United Nations, to support stronger and more coordinated global action.
JRC Network Works Across 782 Districts
JRC describes itself as one of the world’s largest child protection networks and is leading the Child Marriage Free World campaign through law, accountability and collective action.
In India, its partner organisations work with governments and law-enforcement agencies across 782 districts, bringing together communities, schools, panchayats, women, faith leaders, police, political representatives and vulnerable populations.
The network conducts village-level awareness campaigns and public pledge drives, besides intervening to prevent child marriages.
JRC said its partners have stopped or prevented more than 5,50,000 child marriages in India, which it cited as evidence of the role of government, civil society and communities in preventing the practice.
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