By Joseph Momoh, D.S. Reporter
Former US First Lady Hillary Clinton has commended Sierra Leone’s First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio for her role in securing a new United Nations resolution establishing an International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage.
In a statement released this week, Clinton described the UN adoption as a major breakthrough in the global fight to protect girls’ rights and futures.
“Every instance of child marriage forecloses a world of possibilities for a young girl,” Clinton said. “Every year, 12 million girls are married before their 18th birthdays. These girls are robbed of the opportunity to grow up safe and healthy and to pursue an education. In turn, the world loses their participation, their talents, and their ideas.”
She credited Dr. Bio for keeping the issue on the international agenda and singled her out for leadership alongside the governments of Cape Verde, Costa Rica and Morocco in pushing the resolution through.
Clinton also called for increased funding and stronger political will to accelerate the end of child marriage.
“Everyone who sees this message can become a part of ending child marriage,” she urged governments, organizations and individuals worldwide.
As part of the campaign, Clinton encouraged the public to read the Columbia Institute of Global Politics report “Accelerating Efforts to End Child Marriage”, which she said she co-authored earlier this year with First Lady Bio and former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg.
The newly adopted UN resolution is expected to boost global advocacy, cooperation and data collection aimed at eliminating child, early and forced marriage.
Clinton said the milestone reflects growing international commitment to ensuring girls can complete school, live free from harm, and reach their full potential.
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