National Strategy on Ending Child Marriages 2018-2023

Brief Description

The National Strategy on Ending Child Marriage 2018-2023 is led by the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare (MoGCDSW). The strategy aims to reduce the prevalence of child marriage in Malawi by 20% by 2023. A multi-sectoral approach is used that seeks to empower girls through increased economic opportunities, school re-entry, to reduce the dropout rate and keep them in school through to secondary school level. It also aims to build the capacity of law enforcement agencies, increasing the number of child protection services such as victim support groups, frontline child protection workers and Children’s Corners etc. and encourages community dialogues. The strategy focuses on making available age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health rights information and services for young girls and adequate healthcare and psychosocial support for child marriage survivors.

Furthermore, the Strategy is strengthening community engagement through dialogues on child marriage, in order to transform attitudes and social norms and raise awareness of the dangers of child marriage. The strategy also focuses on making available, safe, comprehensive, age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health information, and services to all young girls in Malawi including those who are already married at a young age, by providing adequate and accessible healthcare, psychosocial support and, if necessary, a way out of the marriage. To improve disaggregated data collection, monitoring and evaluation and deeper understanding of the problem, the Strategy is also promoting further research on child marriage. All these strategies are being implemented in close collaboration with international organizations, NGOs and other partners.