The Elders

Independent global leaders working together for peace and human rights.

Child marriage

Child marriage affects millions of girls worldwide. The Elders are bringing together organisations working locally, nationally and internationally to build a global partnership to end this harmful practice.

Elders blog Gro Harlem Brundtland, 17 February 2012

Unlocking India’s potential: youth lead campaign to stop child marriage

“They want to be part of their country’s tremendous growth and opportunity; they want the chance to grow up before becoming parents themselves.”

After returning from India, Gro Brundtland blogs about the Elders' visit to an innovative youth-led project tackling entrenched attitudes towards child marriage in the state of Bihar.

Guest blog Pam Omidyar, 15 February 2012

Catalysing action to end child marriage – on the road with The Elders in India

“It may be hard to measure their direct impact on the global task of ending child marriage, but this visit, for me at least, has me convinced that The Elders are creating a real tipping point.”

Pam Omidyar, founder of Humanity United and member of The Elders' Advisory Council, blogs about joining the Elders in India and their efforts to elevate the issue of child marriage.

Photos 15 February 2012

“My life, my decision: stop child marriage”

In February 2012 four Elders travelled to Bihar, India, to meet a group of young people campaigning to stop child marriage. After listening to the teenage girls and boys, Desmond Tutu, Ela Bhatt, Gro Brundtland and Mary Robinson raised the issue with Bihar's Chief Minister, urging him to support the growing movement to end this harmful practice.

See photos

Press release 09 February 2012

The Elders: Momentum is building to tackle child marriage in India

At the conclusion of a four-day visit, members of The Elders feel that momentum is building to tackle child marriage in India. During their visit the Elders met with political and business leaders, UN and NGO representatives as well as communities affected by child marriage and grass roots activists working to end the practice.

Press release 08 February 2012

Eminent Indian leaders champion efforts to end child marriage in India

At a meeting in New Delhi co-hosted by The Elders and the Population Foundation of India, a group of Indian leaders from government, law, business, the arts and civil society have agreed to become 'champions for an end to child marriage'.

Press release 07 February 2012

The Elders support efforts to address high child marriage rates in Bihar, India

“We believe that by listening to young people addressing child marriage and supporting their communities, we can make a huge difference in one generation” – Mary Robinson.

Desmond Tutu, Ela Bhatt, Gro Brundtland and Mary Robinson visit a youth-led initiative aimed at preventing child marriage in the Indian state of Bihar, where 69 per cent of women marry before the age of 18.

Elders blog Ela Bhatt, 06 February 2012

Welcoming my fellow Elders to India

“We hope to listen to girls affected by child marriage, their parents, their teachers and community leaders – and amplify their needs and concerns in our conversations with government, media and other influential people.”

Ela Bhatt is joined in India by her fellow Elders Desmond Tutu, Gro Brundtland and Mary Robinson at the start of a week-long visit focusing on the empowerment of girls and women.

Press release 02 February 2012

The Elders to visit India with focus on girls’ development and the impact of child marriage

Press Conference in New Delhi, 9 February 2012

Desmond Tutu, Ela Bhatt, Gro Brundtland and Mary Robinson will visit India, home to an estimated one third of the world's child brides. They plan to meet political and business leaders, UN and NGO representatives and communities affected by child marriage, and will attend a regional meeting hosted by Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage.

Elders blog Desmond Tutu, 01 February 2012

Women, religion and change

“This shouldn’t be such a difficult topic for people of faith. It seems entirely consistent with the teachings of the world’s great religions that men and women are equal in the eyes of God.”

After a meeting with fellow religious leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Archbishop Desmond Tutu writes about the role faith leaders can play in promoting equality for girls and women.

News The Nation, 25 January 2012

'The Elders' take a stand against child marriage

Why did The Elders, “more accustomed to sitting down with government officials in North and South Korea, antagonists in the Middle East or peacemakers in Africa,” decide to launch a global campaign to protect the basic rights of girls and women?

Writing in The Nation, Barbara Crossette interviews members of The Elders about their efforts to bring together a global partnership of organisations working for an end child marriage.