Girls Not Brides was initiated in September 2011 by The Elders, a group of independent global leaders working together for peace and human rights, as part of their efforts to more attention to the harmful practices that hold girls and women back, and to encourage and empower others to work to create a world without child marriage. Girls Not Brides became an independent charity in 2013. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mrs Graca Machel and Sonita Alizadeh are Girls Not Brides Global Champions and advocates to end child marriage. Girls Not Brides is a global partnership of more than 1300 civil society organisations from over 100 countries committed to ending child marriage and enabling girls to fulfill their potential. Members are based throughout Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. We share the conviction that every girl has the right to lead the life that she chooses and that, by ending child marriage, we can achieve a safer, healthier and more prosperous future for all. Stronger together, Girls Not Brides members bring child marriage to global attention, build an understanding of what it will take to end child marriage and call for the laws, policies, and programmes that will make a difference in the lives of millions of girls.