Tuesday 27 January 2015
Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage has been recognised for its work to address child marriage with an award from Nationale Postcode Loterij, the largest charity lottery in the Netherlands. Girls Not Brides is a partnership of more than 400 civil society organisations based in over 60 countries, united by a commitment to end child marriage and enable every girl to fulfil her potential.
“Every year, 15 million girls around the world are married as children. In an instant, their chances of a healthy, safe and prosperous future diminish. They usually drop out of school, are trapped in marriages in which they have no voice and bear children before they are ready,” said Heather Hamilton, Global Coordinator of Girls Not Brides.
“The Nationale Postcode Loterij award will be used by Girls Not Brides to support our member organisations with the tools and advice to help them achieve change in their country or community, and to enable girls to live the life that they choose,” added Heather Hamilton. “Together we will bring child marriage to global attention and will call for the laws, policies and programmes that will make a difference in the life of millions of girls.”
Child marriage in numbers:
“This award from Nationale Postcode Loterij is recognition that child marriage is a global problem that holds back millions of girls. Yet crucially, this award also recognises that child marriage is a problem that we can do something about. At Girls Not Brides we support the civil society organisations that work day-in-day-out to enable girls to avoid child marriage and to flourish. Inspired by their courage and expertise, we are convinced that it is possible to end child marriage in a single generation,” said Mabel van Oranje, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Girls Not Brides.
About Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage
Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage was founded in September 2011 by The Elders, a group of independent global leaders working together for peace and human rights. As CEO of The Elders from 2008 to 2012, Mabel van Oranje led the consultations that shaped The Elders’ strategic decision to raise awareness about the often forgotten issue of child marriage and to create Girls Not Brides.
Find out more about Girls Not Brides at www.GirlsNotBrides.org
Follow Girls Not Brides on Twitter @GirlsNotBrides
Follow the Chair of Girls Not Brides on Twitter @MabelvanOranje
Interviews are available with Heather Hamilton, Global Coordinator of Girls Not Brides.
Media contact: Laura Dickinson, media@GirlsNotBrides.org