Get Informed
Child marriage is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach. While child marriage is less common in Canada than in some other parts of the world, it still occurs and needs to be addressed.
Legal framework for child marriage in Canada
Consequences of girls married before the age of 18
Hold our government accountable for its commitments
Despite signing international agreements… FOR OVER 40 YEARS, CANADA HAS IGNORED ITS COMMITMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO DOMESTIC LAW.
Canada’s “insincere” about its commitment to ending child marriage
Advocacy Actions
Sign the Zonta International Canada petition to hold the Canadian government accountable for its commitments “End Child Marriage in Canada: raise the legal age to 18, no exceptions”.
Get Involved with Advocacy Actions
- Raise Awareness: Launch public awareness campaigns to educate the public about the harms of child marriage.
- Policy Advocacy: Demand laws that set a minimum marriage age at 18 with no exceptions.
- Education: Promote comprehensive sex education and identify at-risk students in schools.
- Engage Leaders: Work with religious and community leaders to oppose child marriage.
- Research: Disseminate data on child marriage prevalence and causes to inform advocacy efforts.
- Legal Aid: Partner with legal aid organizations to help victims seek annulment or divorce.
- Youth Empowerment: Empower youth to advocate against child marriage and engage in policy work.
- International Collaboration: Collaborate with global organizations and governments to share best practices.
- Grassroots Mobilization: Engage local communities and organizations to combat child marriage.
- Media Engagement: Use media outlets to raise awareness and share stories.
- Report Child Abuse: Forced marriage. A forced marriage occurs when a person does not want to marry but is made to marry by someone else. It is not the same as an arranged marriage, where both people consent to the marriage.
Outside Resources
While child marriage is not a widespread issue in Canada, several organizations work on gender equality and girls’ rights. Check out these organizations for their current efforts:
Plan International Canada. Plan International is a global organization working to advance children’s rights and gender equality. It offers 5 ways it is working to prevent and end child marriage.
Canadian Women’s Foundation. The Canadian Women’s Foundation supports initiatives that aim to improve the lives of women and girls in Canada. They work on various issues, including gender-based violence and girls’ empowerment, which are related to the prevention of child marriage.
Girls Not Brides (Canada). Girls Not Brides is a global partnership working to end child marriage. Their Canadian chapter provides key statistics and information on Canada’s global commitments. There is no publicly available government data on child marriage in Canada.
Grandmothers’ Advocacy Network. GRAN is a non-partisan network of volunteers working together across Canada to advocate to influence national and global policymakers. Their vision is a world where the human rights of older women, children, youth and gender-diverse persons are recognised and protected so that they can achieve their full potential.
Department of Justice. Provides information on underage and forced marriage.
McGill University newsroom. Child marriage is legal and persists across Canada. Summary of study by Dr. Koski and Dr. Clark (2021)
To find the most current information and campaigns related to child marriage in Canada, check the websites and social media profiles of these organisations, as well as online searches for the latest developments in this area.
Zonta International
Gain access to Zonta International’s 2025 Ending Child Marriage Toolkit
