On 17th August 2024, a town hall meeting was held in Aliki, Ikwo LGA, aimed at empowering young adolescents (8 to 20 years) to make informed decisions about child early and forced marriage and domestic servitude. The event was organized by the African Faith and Justice Network (AFJN), in collaboration with the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria (CYON) and community youth leaders from across three selected communities in Ikwo LGA.

Attendance:
A total of 571 participants attended the meeting, representing over 27 villages from the three communities. The participants included youths, community leaders, and stakeholders, creating a dynamic platform for dialogue and learning.

Key Activities and Discussions

Experience Sharing:
The event was characterized by a high level of participation, with various participants sharing their personal experiences and stories related to child early and forced marriage and domestic servitude. These discussions helped to highlight the realities faced by youth in Ikwo LGA and facilitated a deeper understanding of the challenges within the community.

Empowerment and Decision-Making:
The meeting focused on empowering adolescents with knowledge about the available services and support mechanisms if they encounter or are at risk of child early and forced marriage or domestic servitude. The youths were encouraged to make informed decisions about their future and take advantage of support systems designed to protect their rights.

Key Findings:
One of the most significant findings from the experience-sharing sessions was the revelation that mothers, more than fathers, contributed to the perpetuation of child early and forced marriage, as well as domestic servitude. This insight will inform future engagement strategies, emphasizing the need to target maternal influencers in the fight against these harmful practices.

Conclusion:
The town hall meeting was a resounding success, achieving its objective of raising awareness and empowering the youth of Ikwo LGA. The collaboration between AFJN, CYON, and community leaders was instrumental in mobilizing participants and creating a supportive environment for open dialogue. Moving forward, AFJN and its partners will continue to engage with the youth, Women organizations and community leaders, focusing on addressing the root causes of child early and forced marriage and domestic servitude, with particular attention on the role of mothers in these practices.