By Riffat Kausar,
Scandinavian News Agency
Child marriage remains a widespread human rights concern, and Finn Right International has launched a new campaign to fight it. The Helsinki-based organization unveiled its “I Don’t” initiative on Friday, calling on governments worldwide to set the legal marriage age at 18 with no exceptions.
According to a statement from Finn Right International, millions of girls are forced into marriage each year, a practice the group describes as a serious human rights violation rather than merely a harmful cultural tradition.
Global Child Marriage rights bodies such as UNICEF have long tracked child marriage as a major barrier to girls’ education and safety, though exact current figures should be confirmed against their latest published data.
Why Finn Right International Is Targeting Child Marriage
The organization argues that child marriage strips girls of their childhood, education, health, and freedom. In its statement, Finn Right International said the practice denies girls the right to decide whether, when, and whom to marry, trapping many in cycles of poverty and violence.
The group is calling on three groups to act: national governments, international institutions, and local communities. Its core demand is that laws everywhere set 18 as the minimum marriage age, without loopholes such as parental or judicial consent exceptions that are still permitted in some jurisdictions.
The “I Don’t” Campaign’s Core Demands
Beyond changing marriage-age laws, Finn Right International is pushing for two additional measures. First, it wants girls to have guaranteed access to education, healthcare, and survivor-centered support services. Second, it wants perpetrators of forced child marriage held legally accountable.
“We stand with girls everywhere,” a Finn Right International spokesperson said in the statement announcing the campaign. “We say ‘I don’t’ to child marriage. Every girl deserves a childhood, not a wedding ring.”
Key Facts
- Finn Right International launched its “I Don’t” campaign against child marriage on 12 September 2026
- The group is demanding a global minimum marriage age of 18 with no exceptions
- Core demands include access to education, healthcare, and survivor support for at-risk girls, plus accountability for perpetrators
- The campaign is open to individuals, schools, communities, and leaders who want to join
- Hammad Kahlun, President of Finn Right International, is the named media contact
- Child Marriage
FAQs:
What is the “I Don’t” campaign?
It is a public awareness campaign launched by Finn Right International that urges people and institutions to reject child marriage and push for stronger legal protections for girls.
What does Finn Right International want governments to do?
The organization wants all countries to legally set the minimum marriage age at 18, without exceptions, and to hold perpetrators of forced child marriage accountable.
Why does Finn Right International call child marriage a human rights issue?
The group says it denies girls the right to choose whether, when, and whom to marry, and traps them in cycles of poverty, inequality, and violence.
Who can join the campaign?
Finn Right International says individuals, schools, communities, and leaders are all invited to participate and publicly support the cause.
Where is Finn Right International based?
The organization is registered as a human rights commission in Helsinki, Finland, according to its own statement.
How the Public Can Get Involved
Finn Right International is inviting individuals, schools, community groups, and civic leaders to join the “I Don’t” campaign.
The organization has not detailed specific participation steps beyond a general call to “stand with girls” and publicly reject child marriage, so interested supporters may need to watch for further guidance from the group directly.
The campaign was announced from Helsinki, where Finn Right International is registered as a human rights commission. Hammad Kahlun, the organization’s president, is listed as the media contact for the initiative.
finn-right-international-i-dont-campaign-child-marriage
Info@finnright.com Finn Right International Human Rights Commission, Finland
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