Marriage and divorce have profound impacts on the lives of individuals, families, and society as a whole, and they hold particular significance in empowering women and girls to assert their fundamental rights and access essential services. Despite international human rights conventions officially recognizing the importance of marriage and divorce registration for over five decades, their practical implementation is often overlooked.

This session will begin with a comprehensive examination of the state of marriage and divorce registration in relation to international standards, prevalent practices, existing data, and reported statistics. Subsequently, it will delve into recent obstacles and innovative approaches, drawing insights from three diverse countries spanning Asia, Africa, and Latin America.