Bringing an End to Child Marriage Within a Generation: Obama, Clooney, and Gates Unite

Michelle Obama, Amal Clooney, and Melinda French Gates, three of the world's most influential women, have spoken to BBC News about their mission to end child marriage within a generation. Last year, the three women announced a collaboration between their foundations to tackle this issue. Currently, according to the UN, child marriage will not be eradicated for another 300 years at the rate of progress seen today. However, Michelle Obama expressed optimism, stating that it is an issue that can be solved immediately. During their visit to Malawi and South Africa, the three women shared emotional stories with BBC 100 Women about the impact of child marriage. They highlighted Malawi's high child marriage rates, with 42% of girls being married by the age of 18. The women emphasized the importance of education and women's rights in combating child marriage. They also discussed their respective organizations' efforts to address this issue, such as providing scholarships and legal aid to vulnerable girls and women. The three women spoke about their partnership and the need for collective action to uplift women and girls. They believe that with collaboration and prioritization, child marriage can be ended within a generation.