Plan International Korea, a global humanitarian and development NGO, announced today a major campaign to raise awareness about the severe issue of child marriage and to champion girls' rights worldwide, coinciding with the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11.

The campaign is centered around the devastating reality that a girl is married every three seconds globally. Plan is urging immediate, concerted action to protect girls from this profound violation of their rights, which steals their childhood and future potential.

New Report Highlights Girls' Personal Battles 

To mark the occasion, Plan International has released its annual 'State of the World’s Girls Report,' titled “Let me be a child, not a wife.” The 2025 report amplifies the voices of 251 girls and young women from 15 countries who have experienced child marriage. Their testimonies lay bare the harmful effects of the practice, including:

Interrupted Education: Child marriage often forces girls to drop out of school, severely limiting their opportunities. The report found that over one-third (35%) dropped out of school after marriage.
Health Deterioration: Early marriage is linked to poor health outcomes. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are a leading cause of death for girls aged 15 to 19 globally.
Violence and Isolation: Girls are often exposed to violence, including physical and sexual abuse, and face social isolation after marriage.
Economic Dependency: Without education and opportunities, married girls often become economically dependent, deepening the cycle of poverty.
According to the report, approximately 12 million girls worldwide are married before the age of 18 each year. This statistic underscores the urgent need for action, as child marriage deprives girls of their fundamental childhood and the chance to fulfill their potential.

Global Call for Action and Korean Campaign Efforts 

Plan International is actively pursuing its #EndChildMarriage campaign globally and is launching a specific fundraising initiative in Korea, titled "The Saddest Invitation in the World," to stop the practice.

The organization is calling on governments, NGOs, community leaders, donors, media, and educators to take specific steps, including:

Increased Investment: Scale up funding for programs that change the harmful social beliefs and practices driving child marriage.
Enhanced Access to Services: Strengthen services and ensure access to rights for married girls and those at risk.
Support Girl Leaders: Provide financial and logistical support to girl leaders and youth activists.
Enforce Laws: Implement and enforce strong laws and policies to prevent child marriage.
In Korea, Plan International is also running an easy-to-join SNS hashtag event to garner public support. Participants are encouraged to post a photo of themselves making the 'equals sign (=) gesture' with their hands, symbolizing support for equality, along with a designated hashtag to advocate for an end to child marriage.

A Plan official commented, “Child marriage is a serious violation of child rights that steals a girl’s future. As we observe the International Day of the Girl, we ask for the public’s continued attention and participation to ensure girls can choose the lives they want and achieve their dreams.”