Strategy to mobilise families and communities
Pressure to marry young usually comes from girls’ families and communities, and the broader gender and social norms that influence these groups’ attitudes and behaviours.
Work towards gender equality and an end to child marriage therefore needs to engage families, communities, the media and others who influence decisions around marriage to drive gender-transformative change. This includes working with parents, boys, men, and traditional, religious and community leaders.
This also has to be reflected in the broader social norms and media that influence these groups’ attitudes and behaviour.
Outcomes
- Families, communities and young people are aware of the harmful impact of child marriage and informal unions and the available alternatives for girls.
- Families, communities and young people value and encourage alternative options to child marriage.
- Families and communities – including boys and men – prefer not to marry girls before age 18 and understand the negative effects on girls’ wellbeing.
- Families and communities value girls’ rights and encourage them to participate in decisions that affect them.
- Families and communities demonstrate shifts in social norms away from child marriage and towards gender equality
Our strategic activities should be community-driven and transform how gender roles and child marriage are viewed by families and within wider society.
A greater emphasis on advancing girls' rights and creating viable alternatives to child marriage will encourage family and community support for girls' opportunities.
However, changing norms takes a long time and this work should be resourced accordingly.
Programmes and practice
Working with boys and men
Working with boys and men is a critical part of our work to end child marriage. In many communities it is the men who hold the power and make the decisions. Interventions targeting fathers, brothers, partners and future partners are important in helping boys and men critically reflect on the status quo and see the benefits of a community which values and supports girls and women – in all their diversity – to fulfil their potential.
Religious and traditional leaders
Religious and traditional leaders, too, can play a key role in speaking out against child marriage and changing social norms. In communities where religious and traditional leaders play a prominent role in decision-making or influencing the prevailing norms, targeted interventions can support them to become positive advocates for change who fully understand the implications of child marriage for girls and their families.
Community-level change
Community-level change underpins all our work in advancing gender equality and preventing and responding to child marriage. Without change at this level, the day-to-day reality for girls all over the world will remain the same.
At the grassroots, organisations are driving change by campaigning, holding community dialogues and using a variety of creative techniques like street theatre and art to reflect on gender norms and child marriage, and communicate their impacts for girls and their communities.
Changing norms at scale
Changing norms at scale is integral to the process of change and a growing number of organisations – often working collectively – are using mass media campaigns and other innovative methods like radio, TV and digital media to raise awareness of girls’ rights, evolving capacities and the impact of child marriage.
Messages that promote new norms, role models and alternatives show signs of being an effective way to change norms and practices around the value of girls and women.