Who are we ?
A Non-Governmental Organisation based in the United Kingdom and funded in 2011 by the Elders. The aim of the organisation is to tackle child marriages all around the world by concluding partnerships with local organisations and communities. Girls Not Brides also has regional offices to oversee our local campaigns, notably one in Asia. Find out more about us through our website : https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/
A grassroots women's organisation dedicated to empowering adolescent girls and women in rural and tribal areas. Lal Chunar works directly with communities at the village level, focusing on education, health, gender equality, and social justice. Their team is made up of local women leaders, volunteers, and educators who understand the social and cultural stakes behind child marriage, and who are trusted voices in their communities.
Lal Chunar also trains girls to speak up for their rights and become change-makers in their own villages. This experience is very helpful for us to define the right key to people's minds. Their strong presence on the ground, their knowledge of local languages and customs, and their deep relationships with community members make them a powerful force in helping us prevent child marriages and promote long-term change. Together, we are creating a network of awareness, support, and hope for a better future for young girls in Madhya Pradesh.
A statutory body that works to protect and support the rights of women in Madhya Pradesh. They focus on many serious issues affecting women, including violence, discrimination, and child marriage. Their team helps by giving legal advice, spreading awareness, supporting victims, and making sure laws meant to protect women and girls are followed. Their knowledge of the law, understanding of local culture, and long experience working with women in both cities and villages are incredibly helpful. Together, we will organise training sessions, community programs, and awareness events to stop child marriages before they happen. We also work with them to make sure the government listens to the voices of girls and families who want change.
What is Natra Jhagda ?
Natra Jhadga is an old ritual still practised in tribal and marginalised communities of central India. It is targeting 50 villages where over 700 children are victims of this tradition. This ritual consists of families convening in the weddings of their children when they are very young and sometimes even before they are born. This ritual is still ongoing because it includes money and loans that are necessary for families to survive. Later, if the child bride wants to call off the wedding that was fixed in childhood or get out of the relationship (in cases where she is already married), the bride’s family has to give compensation to the groom’s family. That compensation often equals a significant amount of money. This money is claimed before the Panchayats, the local social courts, that often rule in favour of the groom’s side, thus upholding the tradition.
Girls Not Brides is partnering with Lal Chunar and the State of Madhya Pradesh to fight against this tradition and ensure a better future for young girls.
What is Breaking the Bond?
Breaking the Bond is the campaign dedicated to fighting Natra Jhagda. Through workshops all throughout Madhya Pradesh, we aim at educating members of the community on the harms caused by this tradition as well as tools to fight it. Our goal is to later expand our reach to ultimately end the practice of Natra Jhagda; You can help us in doing so: in the resource centre, you will be able to find all the material we use in our workshop. Now it is your turn to make your community a safer place for all.
This campaign is especially possible thanks to the State of Madhya Pradesh which contribute a significant support by supplying the facilities where our workshops take place. Oxfam IBIS through "Education out Loud" is one of our most important financial contributor and we especially thank them for supporting us in this project.