Foundation
The RAF was founded as a result of UNICEF and UNFPA's 2017 multi-country study on child marriage in the MENA region.
© UNICEF/Morocco/2018/Noorani
About us
Watch our intro video to learn more about RAF's journey!
RAF’s Mission
The Regional Action Forum to End Child Marriage (RAF) is a collaborative initiative dedicated to ending child marriage in Arab States and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The RAF was developed at a crucial time using the recommendations and findings from the multi-country Regional Study on Child Marriage in the Middle East and North Africa launched by UNICEF in 2017, as well as consultations with UNFPA and UNICEF country offices and external partners, including UN agencies, civil society organizations, donors, and academic partners.
The RAF has been set up under the scope of the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage (GPECM) that promotes the rights of adolescent girls to avert marriage and pregnancy, and enables them to achieve their aspirations through education and alternative pathways.
© UNICEF Iraq/UNI233360
Our History
2017
2018-2021
2022-2023
2024-2025
2026-future
Early Development
During its first phase (2018-2021), the RAF succeeded to bring together different organizations in the region and globally with a common agenda to address child marriage.
© UNICEF/UN0263749
Building on Momentum
Building on this momentum, RAF continued its journey into the second phase from 2022-2024 (RAF 2.0) – with specific attention to increase participation of CSOs and WROs.
© Arab girls Summit/2022
Present Day
Today, our priority is to respond to emerging issues linked to social and economic crises, protracted conflict or instabilities in the region, and the climate change crisis, while mitigating their impacts on girls who are already vulnerable to child marriage through a number of relevant coordination, research and advocacy initiatives.
© Child Marriage Solutions Workshop 2024
What's next?
In 2026 and beyond, we will be working on a handover and sustainability plan to ensure the continuity of RAF in the long term.
© Egypt_UNI287096
OUR Governance
The RAF has been set up under the ambit of UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage (GPECM) and is currently co-chaired by UNFPA ASRO and UNICEF MENARO.
With support from the RAF Coordinator, RAF co-chairs ensure the implementation of its strategic goals, maintain visibility and momentum of the action forum, liaise with other relevant bodies working on child marriage prevention in the region, and ensure that RAF’s agenda is well positioned at the forefront of action to end child marriage.
© UNICEF/RAF2024
OUR MEMBERS
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