18 November 2024, NEW YORK This language adoption follows similar language that was introduced at the UN Human Rights Council in 2023. The language in the UNGA resolution, however, is not only novel for the UNGA, but also provides some important additional safeguards missing in the parallel resolution at the UN Human Rights Council.
The language adopted follows joint advocacy by 60 organisations and individuals engaged in advocacy for religious freedom, human rights, and social justice. The new language, adopted on 18 November, calls on states to address violence against women and girls by non-state actors as well as armed groups, in contrast to the HRC resolution. In addition, there is an operational paragraph that adds more enforceable measures to the resolution. The language will officially be adopted at the full UNGA either at the end of November or by mid-December. The language was adopted without a vote, an encouraging anomaly in a Third Committee often riven with division, sending a strong, unified message to end child marriage and to address forced religious conversions and abductions.
Jonas Fiebrantz, with ADF International and Chair of the UN Working Group, who spearheaded the efforts at the HRC two years ago, wrote in an email to supporting organizations: “I am delighted to report that, thanks to our joint advocacy efforts, our proposals were taken up by the delegation of the European Union, who successfully called for their insertion in the revised version of the draft text!”
The preambular paragraph:
Deeply alarmed by reports of the abduction, trafficking and forced religious conversion of women and girls, including those belonging to religious minorities, by armed groups and other non-State actors in connection with child, early and forced marriage,
The Operational paragraph:
Further calls upon States to strengthen prevention and protection measures for women and children, particularly girls who are victims of, or at risk of, abduction, trafficking and forced religious conversion by armed groups and other non-State actors in the context of child, early and forced marriage;
You can find the full text of the resolution here.
Jubilee Campaign welcomes the adoption of the resolution on ending child marriage and especially welcomes the language calling on the states to strengthen preventative and protective measures for women and girls, particularly those vulnerable to “trafficking and forced religious conversions.”
This resolution passes, however, at a time when Iraq’s parliament has proposed amendments to personal status laws which would legalise child marriage.
Jubilee Campaign promotes the human rights and religious liberty of ethnic and religious minorities in the most oppressive countries. We assist individuals seeking asylum from religious persecution as well as promote the care and well-being of larger groups of refugees fleeing religious and ethnic persecution. Jubilee Campaign has reported on the practice of forced religious conversions as a tool used by perpetrators to enjoy impunity in Pakistan.
Photo: Jubilee Campaign, Creative Commons.