Meet the activist who’s stopped over a dozen child marriages
Meet Shalini, a girls’ rights activist from India. She believes, “the key to ending inequality is through education and creating awareness.”
She’s been a Youth Volunteer with Plan International since 2010.
At 17, she stopped her own marriage. In her community, she has prevented over a dozen child marriages and helped 25 children enroll in school.
Shalini has also helped over 2,500 children in her community obtain birth certificates. This official document proves a child’s legal age, helping prevent child marriages.
In 2018, Shalini was awarded a Plan International Impact Award and named a Youth Champion for her activism work.
Though rates have been declining, South Asia has the highest prevalence of child marriage in the world.
Child marriage is a global issue but rates are highest in these 10 countries.
12 million girls under 18 are married each year. We cannot continue to accept this as ‘normal’.
Join us to Defy Normal and help end child marriage
Around the world, ‘normal’ for too many girls is facing roadblocks that challenge their power, freedom and equality just as they enter womanhood. Child marriage is an extreme example of such a roadblock, and one that often forces girls to drop out of school and become mothers before their young minds and bodies are ready.
Plan International Canada is calling on Canadians like you to stand with girls like Shalini to Defy Normal and help end child marriage. Together, we can support girls in becoming empowered, confident women who decide their own futures.