In Chad, thousands of girls as young as 14 years old are pressured to leave education behind and marry before reaching adulthood. Girls Not Brides underlined that in 2019, nearly 61% of Chadian women between the ages of 20 and 24 were married before their 18th birthday. While child marriage rates remain high in the region, the government of Chad and local organizations are rallying behind reforms. Through tougher laws, an increase in tailored educational initiatives and grassroots activism, efforts to curb child marriage rates are actively advancing, bringing hope to thousands of girls.

Correlation Between Child Marriage and Poverty in Chad

Research highlights a strong link between child marriage and poverty. In Chad, this practice is more prevalent among the lowest-income communities: girls from households facing the greatest economic challenges have more than triple the likelihood of marrying before 18 than those in the wealthiest group. The World Bank further emphasizes that economic hardship and limited educational opportunities drive child marriage. This cycle deprives girls from building secure futures, trapping entire families in economic hardship for generations.

Government and Policy Reforms to End Child Marriage in Chad

Policy changes, local initiatives and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are making meaningful progress in reducing child marriage in Chad. As part of the 2023 Universal Periodic Review, Chad emphasized their dedication to fostering equal rights for both men and women, and prioritizing academic opportunities for girls and their participation within schools.

The Sahel Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend (SWEDD), is a collaborative effort between the World Bank Group and United Nations, aiming to narrow the gender gap and back efforts to help girls remain in or re-enter education.

The program’s transformative effect is clear, having already achieved: 

• About 27,906 girls participated in advocacy workshops, helping them understand their rights and resist early marriage
• It provided 360 mentors with specialized training on how to deliver education on gender issues and human rights
• It established 360 refuge centers

Strengthening Laws and Birth Registration 

Policy reforms have paved the way for change, and these efforts are now being reinforced through improved legal protections and birth registration efforts. At the  High Level Political Forum in 2019, Chad confirmed the implementation of a revised statutory marriage age, raising it from 16 years to 18 years.

In February 2019, Chad’s government worked alongside the Organization of African First Ladies and United Nations to launch a fully funded plan to eradicate underage marriage. There were six key components of the strategy: 

• Strengthening laws
• Expanding public outreach
• Offering survivor assistance
• Workforce training
• Upgrading facilities 
• Improving oversight

In 2023, Chad implemented a new constitution that bolstered legal safeguards for women and girls, prohibiting harmful practices like genital mutilation and child marriage. Minister of Justice, Yousoff Tom underlined the commitment of the Chadian government, stating “since ratifying the convention in 1995, Chad had worked tirelessly to eradicate discrimination against women.”

With the assistance of the UN, Chad has strengthened birth documentation systems through the opening of registration offices, a crucial step in preventing age falsification.  Legal authorities now travel to refugee settlements to deliver new copies of birth records, strengthening the government’s ability to verify age with precision, closing the loopholes that once left girls vulnerable.

Chad’s Push for Girls’ Education

Chad has made notable progress in ensuring girls remain in education. The 2024 expansion of the Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend not only worked to prevent violence against girls, but also strengthened access to education. The impacts of the initiative were clear, allowing 127,000 girls to receive academic and financial assistance.

Such measures are vital, just 12% of those who graduate from secondary school end up married before reaching age 18, in contrast to 76.5% of girls that have no education.

These reforms are already showing results, with the percentage of girls attending primary school climbing to 83% in 2024. To further advance girls’ education, Chad’s government imposed penalties on schools that denied admission to pregnant students, to safeguard young mothers’ rights to continue their studies and improve their economic prospects.

The Chadian government also created a ministry dedicated to women’s affairs to embed women’s needs and interests into the frameworks of all state-led initiatives. The Positive Parenthood Program works to challenge harmful gender norms while also expanding centers that offer medical and legal assistance to victims.

How Local and Global Groups Are Driving Change

Founded in 2011, Girls Not Brides brings together organizations from around the world to expand opportunities for girls and women and fight against early marriage. Girls not Brides spans almost 100 countries, successfully linking hundreds of groups together who each contribute to reaching the collective goal of preventing child marriage, and empowering and safeguarding girls. Girls not Brides has 10 member organizations working in Chad to tackle the underlying factors fueling child marriage through public engagement, educational initiatives and support services for girls.

Cellule de Liaison des Associations Féminines (CELIAF) is a further example of a coalition fighting for the rights and safety of girls in Chad. CELIAF consists of more than 450 Non-Governmental Organizations, who together, are working to end all forms of inequality faced by women, through strengthening their role within society. According to Peace Direct, CELIAF plays a key role in bringing together women’s advocacy groups in Chad, with their work impacting 16,000 women. Additionally, from 2012 to 2016 CELIAF launched a women’s empowerment initiative that focused on enhancing female participation in peacebuilding. Through linking grassroots organizations, advancing leadership opportunities and championing women’s perspectives, CELIAF effectively lays the groundwork for social change and combats damaging practices like child marriage.

Looking Ahead

Chad continues to face one of the highest child marriage rates globally, but change is on the way. Indeed, through policy changes, expanded educational opportunities and the commitment of local and international organizations, measurable progress has been made. From increasing the legal age of marriage and enhancing birth registration systems, to providing educational support and guidance to young girls, these efforts are empowering women and equipping the, with the tools to shape their own futures.

– Ciara Moore

Ciara is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons