Thanks to your support, Plan’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ campaign has helped inspire important breakthroughs to end early and forced marriage. Following campaigning by thousands of Plan supporters, Lynne Featherstone, the UK Minister responsible for ending violence against women announced support for the campaign and agreed to 'Take the Vow':
“I take the vow to work to end early and forced marriage and commit to raising the profile of this issue up the international agenda, empowering girls to stay in school, to enjoy their rights and to fulfil their aspirations.”
Your campaigning really is having an impact. But we can’t afford to lose momentum now.
Every day, over 27,000 girls are forced or coerced into marriage.
If we are to end this, we urgently need the different departments of the UK government to work together on the issue. This is why we are calling on Andrew Mitchell - the UK Government’s Secretary of State responsible for overseas development - to lead further vital action now to end early and forced marriage.
Keep up the pressure to end early and forced marriage. Sign Plan's petition today
Vital action
The UK Department for International Development should urgently increase its efforts to support girls to avoid early and forced marriage and stay in education by:
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Scaling up the UK’s overseas aid efforts to prevent early and forced marriage. For example, developing tools to support in-country offices to help end early and forced marriage.
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Using its influence to make ending early and forced marriage a global priority. For example, working with governments to take urgent action at the national and international level.
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Supporting girls to complete nine years of quality education. For example, ensuring that schools are safe and supportive of girls.
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Ensuring that the rights and potential of girls are valued and protected as much as boys. For example, supporting the meaningful participation of girls in decisions that shape their lives.
Sign Plan's petition today to help end early and forced marriage.