Our colleagues Remi Goossens and Margaret Kernan are in Sierra Leone for the Her Choice Programme to prevent girls from child marriage. Remi Goossens gives a statement on International Women’s Day.
‘After five years of the Girl Power Programme we are delighted to continue for – at least – another 5 years with our trusted partner One Family People, on the Her Choice project which focuses on child marriages.
Child marriages remains widespread in developing countries. 14 million girls are married each year before they become adults. We are talking about 44% of girls in Sierra Leone are married before they are 18. Our long-term goal is that ‘Girls are free to decide if, when and whom to marry’.
Within the Her Choice project special focus is given to disabled girls. We believe, like OFP, that girls and young women with disabilities have the right to particular attention, since disabled girls often belong to the poorest of the poor and they are especially vulnerable to GBV and child marriages leaving them and their children with no or little protection.
I cannot emphasize enough how blessed we are to work together with OFP on building child marriage free communities!’
