Sheryl Sandberg Instagram – Every year, 12 million girls are married before they turn 18. Let’s be clear what that means – her childhood ends. She is forced into a life of limited education and opportunity, where someone else makes daily decisions about what she does, including sexual activity.
Kakenya Ntaiya was engaged to be married at age five. But she refused to accept it. She fought for her education, escaped early marriage, and went on to found @kakenyasdream so girls in her community can grow up safe and supported and finish their education. Kakenya’s story is powerful but far too rare. There are 640 million women alive today who were married as children.
Today the @columbiaIGP Women’s Initiative is releasing a new report, Accelerating Efforts to End Child Marriage, developed in partnership with @leaninorg. The report includes a new analysis by @cgdev_ which examines the true cost of child marriage – $175 billion in lost economic potential each year.
When girls grow up safe, educated, and free to choose their own lives, the world is stronger for it. Join us to be their voice.
Read the report at the link in bio. | Posted on 04/Mar/2026 19:36:01
