Digital Library or e-Toolkit on Child Marriage Prevention

Child marriage – one of the major obstacles to women's empowerment is a heinous form of human rights violation due to which girls suffer from premature pregnancy, increased risks and adverse health consequences hindering the country’s overall national development.  To prevent and cease this dreadful act, the Government of Bangladesh is working assiduously and relentlessly. On 22 July 2014, at the Girl Summit in London, honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proclaimed to:   -End child marriage for girls under the age of 15 years in the country by 2021   -Reduce child marriage for girls between the ages of 15 and 18 years to one-third  -Eradicate child marriage in the country by 2041  The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs has dedicatedly adopted the National Action Plan (2018-2030) to achieve these projected goals. In addition to governments steadfast initiatives, other donor agencies and development partners, including U.S. Agency for International Development are carrying out various activities and multi-sectoral responses tailored to national and community-level contexts ensuring all girls’ access for livelihood opportunities and improvement in their economic independence bringing about better education and health, higher per capita income, rapid inclusive economic growth, and greater international competitiveness.  Under diligent and innovative leadership of Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and with technical support by USAID’s Ujjiban SBCC Project, a digital library (e-toolkit) on prevention of child marriage has been developed via incorporation of various data, information and services cumulated in a portal. This ensures a user-friendly hub of information on all the activities undertaken by the Government of Bangladesh on child marriage prevention including links to numerous activities and services provided.  All public and/or private organizations or individuals, researchers, field workers, volunteers and others working in prevention of child marriage can use the digital library and be highly benefited with its contents and guidelines.  The digital library aims to serve as a repository, all accumulated in one platform, with existing services, guiding principles, strategies, conventional laws and regulations and important information for children, adolescents, women, and people of all walks of life in Bangladesh to work together in prevention of child marriage.