| As rural women deeply rooted in our communities, we have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of early marriages. These practices trap young girls in a cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and abuse, stripping them of their childhood and exposing them to severe physical and emotional harm. The stories are all too familiar—young girls forced into marriages with older men, denied the chance to complete their education, and subjected to relentless abuse. This is not just a violation of their rights but a grave injustice that we must all strive to end. GBV is a regional disaster that demands urgent action. It destabilises communities, hampers development, and inflicts lasting trauma on countless women and girls. The pervasive nature of GBV means that no single country can combat it alone; it requires a unified, regional response to implement effective and sustained solutions. By acknowledging GBV as a regional disaster, we emphasise the necessity for collective action and shared responsibility among all stakeholders in the SADC region. |
| Our comprehensive GBV Audit revealed significant gaps in policy and implementation across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Weak and fragmented GBV policy frameworks, insufficient response and monitoring mechanisms, and poor coordination among key players are endemic. Additionally, there is a lack of adequate safety nets and under-resourced support services for GBV survivors. The political will to end GBV, including early marriages, is often lacking, exacerbating the problem. Currently, the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) has reached a critical juncture. The growing number of cases of affected girls and women across the region highlight a symptom of a broader crisis that is present in many countries including Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, and Madagascar. As we reflect on the alarming statistics and harrowing stories from our communities, it is clear that we must redouble our efforts to protect the most vulnerable among us—our young girls. We are committed to spearheading a campaign to stop early marriages, a damaging practice that perpetuates the cycle of violence and denies girls their fundamental rights. Essentially, ending early marriages requires a multifaceted approach that addresses both the immediate and underlying causes of this harmful practice. We urge all SADC member states to adopt and rigorously implement the SADC Model Law on Ending Child Marriages, criminalising child marriages, ensuring strict enforcement of existing laws, and closing legal loopholes. Traditional and religious leaders must be engaged as allies in grassroots sensitisation sessions to change social norms and behaviours. Establishing well-resourced One Stop Centres in every community is crucial to provide comprehensive services, including legal aid, medical care, and psychosocial support to GBV survivors, and building and maintaining safe houses for girls escaping abuse. Advocacy for the creation of fast-track courts for GBV cases is essential, ensuring swift and just handling of cases and addressing corruption within the police and judicial systems. Keeping girls in school is vital for preventing early marriages; therefore, we must remove barriers to girls’ education and support initiatives that keep them in school, empowering them with knowledge, skills, and opportunities. Through these combined efforts, we can make significant strides in ending early marriages and GBV, protecting the rights and futures of our girls. |
