Setting research priorities for prevention and response to child marriage in communities in the Arab region: findings from a multi-stage Delphi study involving practitioners across the region

Janna Metzler, Aisha Hutchinson, and Katrina Kiss from the Women’s Refugee Commission and King’s College London highlight the urgent issue of child marriage in the Arab region, where over 12 million girls are married annually. Progress on ending this practice is slowing, worsened by conflicts and economic crises. This paper reviews research priorities to enhance child marriage prevention in the region. Between July 2019 and December 2021, 73 specialists participated in an online Delphi consultation, identifying 50 research gaps. Consensus was reached on the need for more evidence to support program development and deeper research into the drivers and consequences of child marriage. However, there was less agreement on how research can inform legal frameworks. These findings form the basis of a child marriage research agenda that is tailored to the region and aligns with global efforts.