By Eddah Waithaka
A major new study from Plan International hands the microphone to over 250 girls who survived child marriage, exposing a global crisis of violence, control, and shattered dreams.
In one of the most extensive studies of its kind, girls who survived child marriage are sharing their harrowing testimonies, revealing a practice that places them at severe risk of violence and systematically robs them of their futures.
Plan International’s State of the World’s Girls Report 2025, ‘Let me be a child, not a wife,’ amplifies the voices of 251 girls and young women from 15 countries.
All entered marriage or informal unions before the age of 18. Their firsthand accounts lay bare the devastating consequences of a practice that remains illegal yet persists in most nations, trapping 12 million girls globally each year.
“I was married off young. I wasn’t allowed to study or progress in life – I was deprived of everything,” said Juna, 24, from Nepal. “Early marriage only leads to a dark future.”
Violence and Control Emerge as Key ThemesThe report uncovers a chilling pattern of domination and abuse.
More than one in ten girls (13%) disclosed experiencing violence, a figure researchers call a conservative estimate due to stigma.
Many girls normalized the abuse, citing poor legal support and communities that failed to take violence seriously.
“He used to intimidate me, and whenever I tried to speak up, he would beat me. I kept quiet because I feared the consequences,” said Bupe from Zambia, who married at 15.
The study also found husbands and their families exerted extreme control. Almost half (45%) of the girls married men five or more years older, with some unions involving age gaps of 10 to 20 years.
Many participants reported their husbands controlled their contraception, finances, and mobility, stripping them of agency over their own bodies and lives.
Laws Fail as Poverty and Pressure Persist
Despite being illegal in 14 of the 15 countries studied, child marriage continues, fueled by economic hardship, social pressure, and legal loopholes.
The report identifies that 46% of girls cited family pressure or economic need as the primary driver.
Lack of funding, poor enforcement, and legal exceptions such as allowing parents or judges to approve underage marriages undermine the law.
Informal unions, which are particularly difficult to detect, leave girls isolated and without legal protections for child support or property rights.
Social media now exposes girls to new risks, with the report finding that in Asia and Latin America, older men often exploit girls’ vulnerabilities online, “offering marriage as a golden ticket out of their hardship.”
A High Cost: Dropping Out and Mental Anguish
The consequences are severe and long-lasting. The study found that over one-third (35%) of the girls dropped out of school after marriage, and 63% are now not in employment, education, or training.
This severing of opportunity locks them into cycles of dependency and poverty.Participants also revealed the devastating toll on their mental health, describing feeling alone, overwhelmed, and burdened with adult responsibilities while still children themselves.
The instability of these unions is stark: nearly one in three (28%) of the girls in the study are now divorced, and those who left their marriages often faced stigma and increased financial hardship.
Reena Ghelani, Chief Executive Officer of Plan International, stated the report sends a clear message.
“Progress is too slow, and laws are not doing enough to protect girls, meaning they are facing more risks and fewer choices,” Ghelani said.
“Child marriage is not normal and should never be seen as such, it is a violation.”
The call to action echoes a powerful speech by Kenya’s Chief Justice, Martha Koome, who declared the fight against child marriage “a profound matter of justice and human dignity.”
“Behind each statistic lies a name, a story, and a dream unfulfilled,” Justice Koome stated. “This grim reality calls not for sympathy, but for action; not for charity, but for justice.”
On this International Day of the Girl, Plan International is demanding increased investment in programs that tackle the root causes of child marriage, improve access to education, and strengthen online safety to protect the next generation of girls.
