Against early marriage: AI in the service of faith

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Extract from the article: On August 14, 2025, a new milestone was reached in the fight against child marriage in Togo. The organization Faith to Action Network (F2A) launched its campaign entitled “Protecting childhood is sacred.” This innovative initiative, which combines ..

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On August 14, 2025, a new milestone was reached in the fight against child marriage in Togo. The organization Faith to Action Network (F2A) launched its campaign entitled “Protecting childhood is sacred.” This innovative initiative, which combines faith, technology, and community engagement, is a pioneering project. It aims to stimulate public debate, promote responsible behavior among adults, and, above all, encourage young girls to make informed choices about their future.

Child marriage remains a sad reality in Togo. Recent figures from the 2017 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey and data from the United Nations (2022), UNFPA, and UNICEF (2018) confirm this: "One in four girls is married before the age of 18 in Togo, and 6% before the age of 15. The national assessment reveals that 600,000 girls and women were married during their childhood. The Savanes (13%) and Kara (8%) regions have the highest rates. "

                                                                                                                                                            Photo of participants' families

This phenomenon is linked to gender inequality, low levels of education, and certain practice. “This project was born out of the realization that religious leaders must be at the heart of the fight against child marriage. It is a pilot project, as this is the first time we have used artificial intelligence to reach the most remote regions and raise awareness among the population,” explained Ayoko Bahun-Wilson, director at Faith to Action Network. 

Faith and technology working together to protect children

The campaign draws on an analysis of online debate to better understand perceptions of child marriage. It involves several key players: religious leaders, parents, young people, and educators. It uses virtual avatars capable of spreading messages in local languages and interacting with social realities. Cloned, synthetic but emotionally charged voices convey accessible stories. Early marriage ends a girl's education and compromises her future. "Interpretations of sacred texts should shed light on what is sacred, not justify the marriage of young girls. Certain cultural practices expose young girls to violence and premature marriage. This campaign aims to protect every girl," said Pastor Godson Dogbéda Teyi Lawson, president of the Methodist Church of Togo.

A social listening exercise will analyze online debates to understand perceptions of child marriage in order to transform social norms and ensure that every child has the right to a childhood.

Esther KOLANI