Media Briefs on Ending Child Marriage in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia

Published by Panos Institute Southern Africa (PSAf), this series of Media Briefs for Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia was produced to provide the media with information about child marriage. As stated in the guides, "Child marriage is a violation of children's rights whether it happens to a girl or a boy. It represents perhaps the most prevalent form of sexual abuse and exploitation of girls. It is also a direct form of discrimination against the girl child, who, as a result of the practice, is often deprived of her basic rights to health, education, development, and equality."
The briefs are intended to help improve journalists' knowledge "to enhance their reporting on child marriages in an in-depth and effective way and trigger the necessary social, cultural, legal and policy influence." The briefs recognise that the media plays a critical role in raising awareness of the issue, and can influence both behaviour and policy change around the issue of child marriage. They can also offer possible solutions to the problem and thus improve social transformation.