The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Türkiye and the Sabancı Foundation continue their efforts in elimination of child, early and forced marriages through the “Prevention of Child Marriages” project launched in 2018. The fourth phase of the project which raises awareness about the health risks and consequences of child marriage through the Health Mediators Model in collaboration with families, community leaders, shopkeepers, public institutions, and civil society organizations, starts with a new grant program titled the “Prevention of Child Marriages Project: Grant and Capacity Building Program" with the aim of strengthening the efforts of public institutions, local governments, and NGOs in this field.

ANKARA/İSTANBUL, TÜRKİYE – In Türkiye, one in four women was married off before the age of 18 (TURKSTAT, 2021). Child marriages distance girls from their dreams and prevent them from realizing their full potential. It can also lead to lifelong serious health problems, ranging from chronic diseases to disabilities.

Since 2018, UNFPA Türkiye and the Sabancı Foundation have been working through their “Prevention of Child Marriages” project to eliminate child, early and forced marriages in an effective and sustainable way. Now in its fourth phase, the project invites civil society organizations to collaborate through the new “Prevention of Child Marriages Project: Grant and Capacity Building Program."

The Grant and Capacity Building Program will provide grants to municipalities and civil society organizations — the key agents of change at the local level — to eliminate child, early and forced marriages in Türkiye. Through training and mentoring, the capacity of NGOs to implement the Health Mediators Model will be strengthened, and new opportunities for cooperation will be developed. In addition to the grant program, efforts will be made to raise awareness among municipalities about child, early and forced marriages, and to foster stronger communication and collaboration among them. A data analysis report on the outcomes of the previous three phases will also be published to share the program’s impact and achievements.

Mariam Khan, UNFPA Türkiye Representative emphasized that child marriage is a human rights violation, depriving girls of their rights, health, economic potential, and futures; “At UNFPA, we believe that empowering civil society and local actors is key to driving lasting change. With our new grant and capacity building program, we aim to strengthen community-based efforts in this area and support girls to grow, thrive, and live the lives they choose,”. Khan also noted that UNFPA has been working for 54 years with partners to support sustainable development based on demographic analysis; “Together with our long-standing partner Sabancı Foundation, we are committed to building a future where every girl is protected, empowered, and has the opportunity to realize her full potential.”

Nevgül Bilsel Safkan, General Manager of the Sabancı Foundation, stated that, they have been working toward a society where all individuals benefit equally from rights for over 50 years; “We see equal opportunity for girls not just as an individual right, but as the foundation of social development and a national issue. A society where girls can equally access education, health, and opportunities is the key to a more just and stronger future. With the new grant program we’ve launched in the fourth phase of our project, we will strengthen the capacities of NGOs working tirelessly on the ground and support them in creating lasting and sustainable solutions. We will continue to work with all our strength to help women and girls realize their potential.”

6 Million TRY in Grants for Effective Action Against Child Marriage

Within the scope of the grant program, civil society organizations working to prevent child marriage in Türkiye will be able to submit project proposals in areas such as strengthening data systems and support hotlines, expanding the Health Mediators Model, developing new models, early risk detection, case management, contributing to relevant local action plans, and implementing effective community-based interventions.

Each selected project will receive up to 1 million TRY in grant support. The grant program will begin in June and continue for one year. During this period, NGOs participating in the program will receive training on topics including child, early and forced marriages, the Health Mediators Model, communication, capacity building, and monitoring and evaluation. They will also receive mentorship to help integrate the Health Mediators Model into their work and implement their projects effectively.

Health Mediators Model raised awareness of nearly 23,000 people

In the first three phases of the Prevention of Child, Early and Forced Marriages project, approximately 23,000 people were reached in the provinces of Nevşehir, Van, Bitlis, and Muş. Through the Health Mediators Model implemented in these provinces, a total of 50 women — including those who were married off as children — were trained to become health mediators. More than 4,300 households and over 170 local businesses in these provinces were reached to raise awareness about the risks and negative consequences of child marriage. Additionally, a guide titled “Health Mediators Model in the Fight against Child Marriage” was published to support civil society, public institutions, local governments, and other relevant actors in adopting the model.

UNFPA Türkiye and the Sabancı Foundation remain committed to working together to end child marriages — a practice that traps women and girls in a cycle of poverty and violence and limits their future prospects.