One in every five children in the world is forced into marriage. 9 out of every 10 children married are girls. This means 12 million girls every year. Child, early and forced marriages are one of the most harmful practices against girls all over the world. On the occasion of "World Children's Day", which is celebrated this year with the theme "Every right for every child", the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA and Sabancı Foundation met on 17 November in Ankara to draw attention to child marriage, one of the most fundamental rights violations against girls, and to talk about the joint efforts necessary to prevent it.
ANKARA - One in every five children in the world is married. In Türkiye, one in every four women is married before the age of 18. (TURKSTAT, 2021). Child marriages shorten the lifespan of girls and leave them with lifelong serious health problems, from chronic diseases to disability. It also triggers various mental health problems such as trauma and depression. Child marriages separate girls from education and employment and prevent them from realizing their dreams and potential.
The United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, with the support of the Sabancı Foundation, is working in coordination with public authorities, together with families, non-governmental organizations, community leaders and tradespeople, to prevent child marriages.
UNFPA is celebrating this year with the theme “Every right for every child”. World Children's Day organized an event on the occasion to draw attention to child marriages, one of the most fundamental human rights violations against girls, and to talk about the joint efforts necessary to prevent it. The "Health Mediators Model in Combating Child Marriages" was also introduced at the event organized within the scope of the "Prevention of Child Marriages Project", which has been carried out by UNFPA Türkiye with the financial support of Sabancı Foundation since 2018.
UNFPA Türkiye Representative Mariam Khan in her opening speech, emphasized that the collective effort of all stakeholders, especially states, the United Nations and civil society, is needed to end child, early and forced marriages. He explained that UNFPA Türkiye, in close cooperation with public institutions, carries out community-based studies to raise awareness about the health risks and consequences of child marriages, establish a comprehensive intervention mechanism at the local level and strengthen institutional capacity. “We must join forces for a Türkiye where all women and girls live a life free from violence and where every child's rights are protected so that they can fully realize their potential,” she said.
Sabancı Foundation General Manager Nevgül Bilsel Safkan said that Sabancı Foundation has been working with the ideal of a society in which all individuals benefit from rights equally for nearly 50 years. He stated that child, early and forced marriages prevent girls from accessing education, health and economic opportunities and increase the risk of being exposed to violence and abuse. Based on this, he explained that they have been carrying out the Prevention of Child Marriages project with the United Nations Population Fund for 5 years and have achieved significant results. “It is essential to disseminate the work carried out in this project to different provinces so that it becomes a model and creates a permanent impact, in order to solve early and forced marriages, which is one of the most critical problems of our country.” said.
The event was attended by important representatives from the public, civil society, academia, international organizations and embassies. Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Family and Social Policies, General Director of Children's Services Ayşegül Yıldırım Kaya emphasized that the concepts of early and forced marriage and children should not come together; He said that the Ministry continues its protective, preventive and supportive services with the principle of the best interest of the child. "We will continue to take determined steps in cooperation to fully prevent Early and Forced Marriages and eliminate this important violation of children's rights," he said.
At the event On behalf of the Ministry of National Education, Deputy Minister Assoc. Dr. Celile Eren Ökten also gave a speech. She emphasized that all children's right to education and that no one can be deprived of this right is guaranteed by law, and said that education is the most necessary condition for them to benefit from these rights. She stated that they closely monitor children's attendance and absence from education. Ökten underlined that child marriage is a human rights violation and an international crime; “We will continue to work to ensure that every child has equal rights to life, housing, health and education,” he said.
You can access the live broadcast recording of the event from these links. (Turkish, English)
Prevention of Child Marriages Project: Health Mediators Model:
Conducted by UNFPA Türkiye and Sabancı Foundation The 'Prevention of Child Marriages' Project has implemented a unique model called 'Health Mediators' in the provinces of Nevşehir, Van, Bitlis and Muş in 3 phases since 2018. Women, including those who got married and/or had children at a young age, living in the project province and determined as Health Mediators according to predetermined criteria and participating in capacity strengthening trainings, visit households and shopkeepers to raise awareness about the health risks and consequences of child marriages. is doing studies. Within the scope of the project, awareness-raising meetings and activities to support local prevention and intervention mechanisms to end child, early and forced marriages are also carried out.
The project aims to contribute to the establishment and strengthening of comprehensive intervention mechanisms (prevention and intervention) at the local level for a stronger struggle by raising awareness about the health risks and consequences of child marriages, as well as contributing to the full realization of the potential of all children and young people, and to prevent child marriages in Nevşehir. It reached approximately 23 thousand people in Van, Bitlis and Muş provinces. Within the scope of the project, approximately 50 women have been trained as health mediators so far. These health mediators reached more than 4,300 households and 170 local businesses/tradespeople in Nevşehir, Van, Bitlis and Muş to explain the risks and harmful consequences of child marriages. Capacity-building studies were carried out with public institutions to support an effective prevention and intervention mechanism at the local level.
