“Girls Are Not Brides”: NACTAL Demands Urgent Action to End Child Marriage

By Praise Chinecherem

The Network of Civil Society Organisations Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) has called for urgent action to end child marriage, insisting that girls must be protected from early and forced marriage and given the opportunity to pursue their education, dreams and aspirations.

The organisation also urged governments, families, community leaders and other stakeholders to invest in girls’ rights, describing the protection of the girl child as essential to building safer communities and a more equitable society.

NACTAL’s Zonal Coordinator, Eucharia Onyemobi, made the call in a message marking the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, themed “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”

Onyemobi warned that child marriage deprives girls of their childhood, disrupts their education and exposes them to health complications, sexual abuse, domestic violence, exploitation and poverty.

“No girl should be forced to abandon her dreams or assume the responsibilities of marriage before she is ready,” she said.

She identified poverty, harmful social norms, gender inequality and weak child protection mechanisms as factors that continue to threaten girls’ rights and undermine their opportunities for a better future.

According to her, every girl deserves the freedom to learn, develop her abilities and make decisions about her future without coercion, discrimination or exploitation.

“Girls are not brides to be given away in childhood; they are children whose rights, dreams and potential must be protected,” Onyemobi stated.

She called on governments at all levels to strengthen the implementation of child protection laws, ensure accountability for violations and expand access to quality education and healthcare.

She also urged authorities to provide effective support for children at risk of abuse, trafficking and exploitation, stressing that protecting vulnerable girls requires sustained commitment and practical interventions.

The NACTAL coordinator further appealed to traditional rulers, community leaders, parents and guardians to take a firm stand against child marriage and other harmful practices.

She maintained that cultural traditions should never be used to justify violations of children’s rights, adding that families must be supported to keep their girls in school and provide opportunities for their educational, social and economic development.

Onyemobi also called on civil society organisations, development partners, schools and the media to intensify public awareness campaigns against child marriage and violence targeting girls.

She emphasised the need for accessible reporting channels, effective support services and appropriate responses to abuse cases to ensure that girls receive protection and have access to justice.

Beyond government and community interventions, she urged boys and young men to reject practices that endanger girls and become active partners in promoting respect, equality and the protection of children’s rights.

According to her, investing in girls’ education, health, skills development, leadership and well-being would strengthen families, improve community safety and contribute to a more equitable society.

As the world marks the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, NACTAL called for a shift from awareness to concrete action, urging stakeholders to ensure that commitments to ending child marriage translate into measurable improvements in girls’ lives.

“Every girl kept in school, every child protected from exploitation and every harmful practice prevented represents progress towards a society where girls can thrive,” she said.

“Ending child marriage is a shared responsibility. Protecting girls today means securing a better future for all,” the statement read.

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