By Atlantic Reports

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged governments, businesses, civil society organisations and community leaders to increase investment in measures that prevent child marriage and ensure support reaches every girl.

In his message marking the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, observed annually on 11 October, Guterres warned that funding cuts threatened gains made through education, economic opportunities and stronger social and legal protections.

The message focused on the theme “End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights!”

According to Guterres, a girl’s childhood is cut short by marriage every three seconds, while one in five girls worldwide is married before turning 18.

“Child marriage compromises the education, health, and safety of millions of girls across the globe. Fundamentally, it is rooted in poverty,” he said.

He warned that conflict, climate shocks and displacement heightened the risk by leaving families with fewer options for their daughters.

Education and Economic Support Central to Prevention

Guterres said keeping girls in school, improving families’ economic opportunities, strengthening legal and social protections, and challenging discriminatory gender norms could help prevent child marriage.

He said these measures had averted an estimated 68 million child marriages over the past 25 years, demonstrating that sustained investment could produce results.

However, he warned that the current pace of progress remained inadequate.

“Yet recent funding cuts threaten progress. At the rate we’re going, it will take centuries to eliminate child marriage,” he said.

His message did not specify the funding cuts concerned or quantify their effects on prevention programmes.

The UN chief called for wider access to proven interventions, placing responsibility on public institutions, the private sector and community leaders to protect girls’ rights and expand their choices.

“Together, let us defend the right of all girls to a childhood, and ensure every daughter, every sister, grows up free to shape her own future,” he said.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.