BANGKOK, Nov 29: Regional leaders from SAARC, SAIEVAC, Girls Not Brides, UNICEF ROSA, World Vision, UNFPA, Child Fund International, Plan International, TdH, youth activists, and development partners came together for the Asia-Pacific launch of Plan International’s report, Status of the World’s Girls: Let Me Be a Child, Not a Wife. The report focuses on Child, Early and Forced Marriage and Unions (CEFMU) and called for urgent, coordinated action to protect the rights of millions of girls across the region.
His Excellency Ambassador Md Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of SAARC, stressed that ending CEFMU is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. He highlighted SAARC’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, supporting member states to close legal loopholes, investing in girls’ education and sexual and reproductive health and rights, and improving the collection and use of disaggregated data to inform policies and programmes.
Girls make move against child marriage
In her opening address, Ms Bhagyashri Dengle, Regional Director of Plan International Asia-Pacific, underlined that “every girl has the right to grow up safe, educated and in control of her own future.” She called on governments, regional bodies, donors and the private sector to move beyond commitments to concrete, adequately financed action, and reaffirmed Plan International’s determination to stand with girls’ movements and feminist partners to tackle the root causes of child marriage.
Presenting key findings from the report, Ms Jolly Nur Haque, Regional Head of Programme and Influencing at Plan International Asia-Pacific, noted that while progress has been made in several countries, the Asia-Pacific region still accounts for a significant share of the world’s child brides. She highlighted the compounded impacts of the climate crisis, economic shocks, and conflict on girls’ vulnerability and stressed that programmes focusing on girls’ leadership, community norm change, quality services, and strong implementation of laws and policies can accelerate reductions in CEFMU.
During the CEFMU panel discussion, experts emphasised that laws alone are insufficient. Panelists called for long-term investments in girls’ education and skills, comprehensive sexuality education, accessible and survivor-centred protection services, and initiatives that engage boys, men, and religious and traditional leaders. Participants included Dr Rinchen Chophel, Director General of SAIEVAC, Bhutan; Belete Birara Walle, Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF ROSA, Kathmandu; Kabita Bose, Country Director of Plan International Bangladesh; Kathrine Rose R. Yee, Regional Advocacy Director at World Vision Philippines; and Fasahat Ul-Hassan, CEO of Youth Advocacy Network Pakistan. The discussion was moderated by Shreya Ghosh, Asia Regional Head of Girls Not Brides. Speakers stressed the importance of supporting grassroots women’s rights and youth-led organisations and ensuring that regional frameworks translate into local action and accountability.
In her closing remarks, Ms Sharon Kane, Director of the Sub-Regions at Plan International Asia-Pacific, urged all stakeholders to align resources with measurable results. She reiterated Plan International’s commitment to deepen partnerships with SAARC and other regional bodies, scale up evidence-based, gender-transformative programmes, and amplify girls’ voices in all decision-making spaces.
Plan International Asia-Pacific called on governments, regional organisations, donors, civil society, and the private sector to seize this moment to renew and resource their commitments, ensuring that every girl in the region can live free from child, early and forced marriage and realise her full potential.
