U.S. Pledges $4.8 M to Fight Child Marriages

The announcement builds on larger support for girls by USAID and the Department of State through an estimated $800 million in basic education, $164 million to combat gender-based violence, and $48 million to end human trafficking in this fiscal year.

The programs support implementation of "Ending Child Marriage & Meeting the Needs of Married Children: The USAID Vision for Action" to prevent and respond to child, early, and forced marriage in regions, countries, and communities where interventions are most needed and most likely to achieve results.

By partnering with local institutions and community groups, USAID is supporting the voices of change agents at the national, local, and community levels seeking to change attitudes and motivations that perpetuate the practice of child, early, and forced marriage, which affects an estimated 10 million girls each year, it said.

According to a UN report, India has the sixth highest prevalence of child marriage in the world, with one in every three child bride living in the country.

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