A.P. NGOs welcome U.N. decision to name Nov. 27 as day against child marriage

Various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and child rights activists in Andhra Pradesh have welcomed the United Nations decision to declare November 27 as the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage.According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS, 2019-21), 23.3% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18 years was 20.1% in the 2023-24 NFHS, said Child Rights Advocacy Foundation (CRAF) State Programme Director P. Francis Thambi.The Centre has set a target to reduce child marriages by 10% in 2026, said JRC founder and international child rights activist Bhuwan Ribhu.Advocate P. Rajya Lakshmi, who was fighting against child and forced marriages, urged the government to take measures for strict observance of the International Day for the Elimination