Liberia: ‘Let Girls Dream, Not Marry Early’: Mercy Johnny Demands Action Against Child Marriage in Liberia

BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa County — A call for urgent and sustained action to end child marriage dominated Liberia’s 2026 International Day of the Girl Child commemoration in Buchanan, with child-rights advocate and Children Rescue Africa Founder Mercy C. Johnny warning that Liberia cannot achieve meaningful national development while girls continue to be pushed into early marriage.

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By Patience M. Jones

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Speaking to adolescent girls, government officials, development partners and civil society actors gathered at Buchanan City Hall on Monday, Johnny delivered a forceful keynote address under the national theme, “Ending Child Marriage in Liberia: Investing in Her Rights and Potential.”

The commemoration, organized by the Adolescent Girls Division of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in collaboration with partners, was held in line with the global theme:, “End Child Marriage, Invest in Girls’ Rights.”

Johnny, who has worked with vulnerable children across Liberia, said child marriage, sexual abuse, teenage pregnancy, poverty and discrimination continue to rob girls of opportunities to determine their own futures.

She challenged parents, traditional leaders, government officials and communities to move beyond conversations about protecting girls and take concrete steps to ensure they remain in school, receive adequate healthcare and are protected from violence and harmful practices.

“A girl’s childhood should not be sacrificed. Her education should not be interrupted. Her dreams should not be destroyed,” Johnny said, drawing applause from the audience.

She said a girl should have the opportunity to grow, learn and make decisions about her future rather than being forced into marriage before she is ready.

According to Johnny, ending child marriage requires more than annual commemorations, speeches and public statements. She called for stronger enforcement of child-protection laws and greater investment in education, healthcare and programs that protect girls from violence and exploitation.

She also urged communities to create an environment where girls can speak openly about issues affecting them and participate in decisions that shape their lives.

Johnny emphasized that adolescent girls should not merely be treated as beneficiaries of development programs but as active participants in shaping Liberia’s future.

“Let Girls Dream, Not Marry Early,” she declared.

The statement became one of the central messages of the commemoration, as girls gathered in Buchanan to mark a day dedicated to promoting their rights and drawing attention to the challenges they continue to face.

A Persistent Challenge

Liberia joined countries around the world in observing the International Day of the Girl Child, a United Nations observance established to promote girls’ human rights and highlight challenges including discrimination, exploitation and gender-based violence.

The Ministry of Gender said this year’s commemoration is intended to renew national attention to the need to eliminate child marriage, promote gender equality and expand opportunities for every Liberian girl to reach her full potential.

The Ministry noted that child marriage remains a serious concern, particularly in economically disadvantaged and rural communities where poverty, limited educational opportunities, gender inequality and harmful social norms can increase girls’ vulnerability.

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Ministry cited figures showing that approximately 32 percent of young women in Eastern and Southern Africa and 41 percent of young women in West and Central Africa were married before age 18.

The Ministry also noted that nearly one in three newly married child brides globally now live in Sub-Saharan Africa, compared with approximately one in seven 25 years ago.

The figures, according to the Ministry, demonstrate the scale of the challenge facing governments, communities and organizations working to protect girls from early marriage.

The Ministry stressed that ending child marriage cannot be achieved by government alone.

It called for collective action involving parents, traditional leaders, educators, government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners and communities.

For girls in Liberia, the issue is closely connected to their ability to remain in school, access healthcare, avoid violence and develop the skills needed to become economically independent.

Girls Take Center Stage

The Buchanan celebration brought together adolescent girls representing Liberia’s 15 political subdivisions, alongside government officials, development partners and civil society organizations.

The national commemoration began with a parade through the principal streets of Buchanan at 8 a.m., with girls taking part in activities designed to draw public attention to their rights and the need for greater protection.

The event also provided a platform for girls and young people to use their voices and creativity to advocate against child marriage.

Among the activities is a national artistic competition designed to give young Liberians, particularly adolescent girls, an opportunity to communicate messages about girls’ rights through poetry, songs, dramatic performances and visual artwork.

The competition seeks to encourage young people to challenge harmful social norms while promoting education and safe and supportive environments where girls can grow and realize their potential.

Contestants are competing for cash prizes of LRD 50,000 for first place, LRD 25,000 for first runner-up and LRD 10,000 for second runner-up.

The submission of artistic works began on September 20 and was scheduled to run through October 13, with the presentation of contestants’ works taking place in Buchanan.

A panel of judges is expected to assess the entries based on established criteria, including creativity, originality and how effectively contestants communicate the campaign’s message.

Beyond the Celebration

Other activities planned as part of the commemoration include the “Her Rights, Her Voice” National Dialogue, “End Child Marriage” community mobilization activities across 11 counties represented by members of the Adolescent Girls Advisory Panel and the “Take a Girl to Work” Initiative.

The Ministry said the activities are being implemented with support from partners including the World Bank Group, ECOWAS, UNICEF Liberia, UNFPA, BRAC and Plan International Liberia.

The focus, according to the Ministry, is not simply to mark the International Day of the Girl Child but to use the occasion to strengthen community engagement and mobilize sustained action for girls.

For Johnny, that action must continue long after the celebrations end.

She urged Liberians to recognize that protecting girls is not simply a child-protection responsibility but an investment in the country’s future.

She argued that when girls are protected from early marriage and given access to education, healthcare and opportunities, they are better positioned to contribute to their families, communities and the country.

“Investing in a girl is investing in the future of Liberia,” Johnny said.

She stressed that an empowered girl has the potential to determine her own destiny and contribute meaningfully to nation-building.

The message resonated throughout the Buchanan gathering: ending child marriage requires more than telling girls to wait. It requires creating the conditions that allow them to remain in school, pursue their dreams, make informed choices and participate in shaping the future they will inherit.

As Liberia continues its efforts to address child marriage, the call from Buchanan was clear – girls must be protected, their voices must be heard, and their childhoods must not be traded for early marriage.

For Johnny and other advocates, a girl’s future should be defined by her dreams and potential, not by the age at which she is married.