The UN International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has published new data finding a fifteen percent decrease in child marriages globally since 2008. The data reveals that South Asia has seen “the largest decline in child marriage worldwide,” with a “girl’s risk of marrying before her 18th birthday” dropping to thirty percent from almost fifty percent just ten years ago. Much of that decline is attributed to proactive policies to combat early marriage in India, including more investment in the education of girls. UNICEF says that while the progress seen in South Asia is extremely positive, the organization is shifting its focus to sub-Saharan Africa, which region is now responsible for one-third of the newest child brides in world.
Compiled from: 25 million child marriages prevented in last decade due to accelerated progress, according to new UNICEF estimates, UNICEF Press Release (March 6, 2018).