Dr Bilesha Weeraratne Attends UNGA 80 Dialogue on Creating a Child Marriage Free World

25 September 2025

IPS Research Fellow and Head of Migration and Urbanisation Policy Research, Dr Bilesha Weeraratne, attended a side event of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on “Creating a Child Marriage Free World”, held on 25 September 2025 at the Westin New York Grand Central, USA.

The high-level dialogue focused on the three pillars of Prevention, Protection, and Prosecution in addressing child marriage. The event speakers stressed the importance of investing in the rule of law to ensure that justice is not an afterthought but the foundation for safeguarding children and holding systems accountable.

The discussions also highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting that in 2024 nearly one in every five young women globally were married before the age of 18. Several governments have taken bold action to tackle child marriage, with promising results that accelerate progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 5.3 on eliminating harmful practices, including child, early, and forced marriage.

The event was organised by the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the Government of Kenya, and Just Rights for Children, in partnership with the World Jurist Association, Global Survivors Fund, and Jurists for Children Worldwide. It brought together governments, legal experts, and civil society representatives who shared experiences and good practices aimed at building a child marriage free world.