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Afghanistan Facing Famine

UN, World Bank, US Should Adjust Sanctions, Economic Policies

(New York) – Donor countries, the United Nations, and international financial institutions should urgently address Afghanistan’s collapsed economy and broken banking system to prevent widespread famine, Human Rights Watch said today. The UN World…
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Nigerian States Should Protect Girls by Ending Child Marriage

Over 10 million children are out of school in Nigeria and the global pandemic has only made it harder for young people to stay in school. There have been dire consequences for girls, who are at risk of being married off. In a recent report,…
A woman protests against child marriage in Lagos, Nigeria.
News

Ensure Justice for Zimbabwe’s Child Brides

Investigate Girl’s Murder, Protect Children from Abuse

The heart-wrenching case of a 14-year-old girl who died during childbirth at an Apostolic church in Marange, in Zimbabwe’s Manicaland province, has sent shockwaves across the country. According to reports, the girl, Memory Machaya, who had been forced out…
A group of child brides at Annandale farm, Shamva, Mashonaland Central Province after participating in a community meeting on ending child marriage.
News

Victory Against Child Marriage in New York State

Sixth US State to Explicitly End Practice; Rest Should Follow Suit

New York State’s Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation on Thursday to end child marriage, making New York the sixth state in the United States to raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 without exceptions. When the law goes into effect next…
Women protest child marriage at the New York state capitol in Albany, on Feb. 14, 2017.
News

New Pledges to End Child Marriage in Francophone Africa

Governments Need to Match Commitments with Action

Earlier in July, governments, philanthropies, and the private sector pledged almost $40 billion at the Generation Equality Forum in Paris to fight gender inequality over the next five years. The aim is to accelerate progress on women’s and girls’…
A girl holds the hand of a boy in Agadez, Niger on October 9, 2018.
News

Discrimination in Tanzania’s Schools Ruining Girls’ Lives

President Suluhu Should Support Education of Pregnant Girls

Tanzania’s first woman president, Samia Suluhu, took office in March 2021. Her administration has the opportunity to call on education authorities to end the exclusion of pregnant and married girls from public schools. She should urge them to adopt a…
Cartoon for Tanzania Education Report
News

Africa: Prioritize Education to Safeguard Children’s Rights

Guarantee Free Education for All; Tackle Abuses

(Nairobi) – African governments across the continent should accelerate efforts and provide adequate funding to ensure that all children can enjoy their right to an education, Human Rights Watch said today to mark the African Union’s Day of the African…
“Angela,” 20, walks with her son near her home after returning from school in Migori county, western Kenya
News

Signs of Hope in Fight Against Child Marriage

Fifth US State Ends Marriage Under 18; UK Pledges to do the Same

Last week, a breakthrough in the global fight to end child marriage came when the United Kingdom government pledged to raise the minimum age of marriage in England and Wales to 18, without exception. Just days before, Rhode Island became the fifth US…
A demonstrator wearing a bridal gown takes part in a protest urging legislators to end Massachusetts child marriage
News

New York Governor Should Sign Bill to End Child Marriage

Cuomo Can Help US State Lead by Joining Four Others that Have Banned the Practice

On June 2, the New York State Assembly voted unanimously to approve a law ending all marriage before the age of 18 in New York State. The bill had already been approved by the state senate in May. New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, should now sign the…
Women protest child marriage at the New York state capitol in Albany, on Feb. 14, 2017.
News

In a Pandemic Year, Some Good News for Children

10 Points of Progress in 2020

This year has been devastating for children. The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the education of 1.5 billion students, pushed an estimated 150 million additional children into poverty, left many without caregivers, and increased child labor, child…
Students sing the national anthem before class at a secondary school in Koidu, district of Kono, Sierra Leone, November 20, 2020. 
News

Submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child on Oman

88th Pre-Session

We write in advance of the 88th pre-session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and its review of the Sultanate of Oman’s compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.  Nationality (arts. 7 and 8) Oman does not…
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Gender Alert on Covid-19 Afghanistan

Issue XV: The impact of COVID19- on women and girls’ education

UN Women, UNICEF and Human Rights Watch jointly issue this fifteenth alert to continue to highlight the gender specific impact of COVID-19 in Afghanistan. This alert focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and girls’ education and the…
News

Child Marriage, Pregnancies Soar During Pandemic

Covid-19 Threatens Global Progress on Girls’ Rights

The world was making real progress toward ending child marriage – until the pandemic. Adolescent pregnancies were falling too, especially among girls under age 15 – until the pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic and the inadequate response of…
Bangladesh: Child Marriage
News

Building Equitable Futures by Investing in Girls

Governments Should Tackle Abuses, End Barriers to Education

In advance of this International Day of the Girl, celebrated on October 11, girls around the world should hear how their governments plan to change the course of history and create equitable progress for girls everywhere. Important…
Students strike against sexist violence in Madrid, Spain, March 6, 2020. 
News

Submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child on Kuwait

87th Pre-Session

We write in advance of the 87th pre-session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and its review of Kuwait’s compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This submission proposes issues and questions that the Committee members may want…
News

COVID-19’s Devastating Impact on Children

Governments Should Mitigate Harm, Protect Most Vulnerable

(New York) – The COVID-19 crisis has a potentially far-reaching, long-term negative impact on children around the world, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The impact is likely to be devastating, even though children who contract…
A child washing hands with anti-bacterial soap as a preventive measure against COVID-19, at Sadarghat Launch Terminal, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on March 27, 2020.
News

Governments Should Fulfill Women’s Rights Pledges

Entrenched Discrimination, Violence Mar Gains 25 Years after Beijing

(New York) – Governments should mark International Women’s Day on March 8, 2020 with moves to expedite progress on gender equality, Human Rights Watch said today. They should plan for concerted action and dedicate resources to prevent…
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