Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they are ensuring that pledges made at the Girl Summit 2014 by other countries, and in particular Bangladesh, are being met.

The Girl Summit, co-hosted with UNICEF in London in July 2014, secured over 180 commitments, including 43 governments. We are working with UNICEF to follow up with governments and other participants on progress since the Summit. A summary of these achievements will be available for the anniversary of the Summit.

Over the last year the UK Government has also been working with UN partners, civil society and national Governments, including the Government of Bangladesh, to support countries to implement these commitments. Bangladesh held its own Girl Summit in October 2014, are making legal revisions to the 1929 Child Marriage Restraint Act and finalising the National Plan of Action for Ending Child Marriage.