05/06/2026
When we call it "child marriage," we risk softening the reality of what it often is.
A child cannot freely consent to becoming a wife. A child cannot fully understand the lifelong consequences of being removed from school, separated from her dreams, and placed into an adult role she was never ready for.
That is why the words of Sierra Leone's First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, resonate so deeply. She reminds us that behind the phrase "child marriage" are real girls whose childhoods are cut short, whose choices are taken away, and whose futures are decided for them.
For many girls, it is not a marriage born out of love or choice. It is a forced reality that exposes them to abuse, exploitation, isolation, and lost opportunities. It is a cycle that steals education, independence, and the chance to simply be a child.
Every girl deserves the right to grow, learn, dream, and choose her own future. Childhood should never be treated as something that can be negotiated away.
The fight against child marriage is not just about changing laws. It is about protecting girls, amplifying their voices, and refusing to normalize practices that rob them of their dignity and freedom.
Because every child deserves a childhood.
