Delhi: Religious leaders unite to end child marriage by 2030
In a significant move to combat child marriage, over 30 eminent faith leaders from 20 religions came together in New Delhi to initiate discussions on forming a national-level interfaith forum. The forum aims to leverage religious influence to raise awareness, support legal enforcement and strengthen collaboration to achieve a child marriage-free India by 2030.
The dialogue on Wednesday was organised by India Child Protection (ICP), a partner of the Just Rights for Children network, builds on a previous interfaith discussion held on July 22, 2024. At that meeting, faith leaders from nine religions unanimously agreed that no religion endorses child marriage and committed to ensuring that no religious leaders solemnise such marriages.
Less than a year later, representatives from Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Baha’i, Buddhism, Jainism, Brahma Kumari, Judaism and Zoroastrianism reconvened to strategise and draft an action plan. They emphasised the role of faith leaders in reshaping social norms and eradicating harmful practices.
Bhuwan Ribhu, founder of Just Rights for Children, described the initiative as a landmark step. “Child marriage is not only illegal but also immoral, with no sanction from any religious entity. This movement is growing into a global effort to create a child marriage-free world,” he stated.
He urged communities to actively oppose child marriages, report cases and ensure that religious institutions only conduct legally valid marriages.
Swami Kripakarananda from Rama Krishna Mission called child marriage an “evil practice” that has persisted for centuries. He stressed the importance of educating communities to dismantle such traditions. Arch Bishop Mar Kuriakose Bharanikulangara from the Diocese of Faridabad echoed this sentiment, advocating for greater awareness, strict enforcement of marriage registration and global action against child marriage.
Islamic leaders, including Imam Faizan Muneer, secretary of the All India Imam Organisation, and Mufti Aslam, principal of a Madarsa, emphasised that Islam did not permit child marriage. They called for community awareness to ensure no family or religious leader allows or facilitates such unions. Brahma Kumari Sister Hussain from Om Shanti Retreat Centre highlighted the powerful role faith can play in addressing deeply ingrained social evils.
As part of the initiative, faith leaders agreed to establish regional and local chapters in high-risk areas to spread awareness at the grassroots level.
