A/HRC/27/34 practices; and how to maximise the impact and added value of efforts to address child, early and forced marriage. 16. Addressing some of the issues raised during the discussion, Ms. Maiga attributed the persistence of the practice and some of the challenges in addressing it to the weak legal status of women and children within the family and the community and the lack of implementation of existing legislation, as well as the existence of multiple sources of law in several countries. Initiatives had been undertaken, such as those by the African Union and the Pretoria Human Rights Centre, which looked at root causes, existing legislation and regulations, culminating in plans of action and awareness-raising campaigns. She called for more resources and for educational programmes, awareness-raising and mobilization, and for sharing cross-regional experiences with the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States. She also recommended that joint efforts be made to ensure that child, early and forced marriage remained on the post-2015 development agenda. 17. Ayman Sadek, responding to the question concerning successful practices, drew attention to the role of awareness raising campaigns among girls and their communities, and provided an example from Egypt in which a 14 year old girl, with the support of her family, was able to avoid getting married and went on to become one of the positive models for girls in her village. In Bangladesh, children's groups working together with local authorities had organized visits and discussions in order to educate families and communities about the risks of child, early and forced marriage, which resulted in some areas being declared “Child Marriage-Free Zones”. Dr. Sadek linked child, early and forced marriage with other harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation, and with the drop-out rate of girls from schools. He emphasized the importance of the participation of children and young girls themselves, as well as of men and boys, which was crucial to ensure sustainable change. 18. Pooja Badarinath provided examples of grass-roots efforts in which girls were asked about their aspirations, noting that education was high on the list. For girls, particularly in the context of education, separate toilets and adequate sanitary facilities were important. Evidence showed that girls who had received sex education had been empowered to negotiate marrying at an older age, which delayed sexual activity, and to follow safer sexual practices. She requested all States to consider criminalizing marital rape in their countries, and also to promote the inclusion of comprehensive sexual and reproductive rights in education. 19. Violetta Neubauer stated that comprehensive strategies, tailored to specific country and local contexts, were needed to address child, early and forced marriage. She referred to recommendations made by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women according to which marriage exceptions for persons below the age of 18 – but no lower than 16 – could only be authorized by tribunals and only with the full and free consent of the girls involved. Marriages contracted by coercion should be declared null and void, and the difficult situation of girls after marriage had to be taken into consideration. She expressed the hope that the joint recommendation/general comment of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the elimination of harmful practices would be adopted by the end of 2014. 20. Kate Gilmore emphasized the importance of political will as well as of an environment where parents and communities appreciate the harmful consequences of child marriage for their girls. She particularly noted the importance of greater attention to adolescents, ensuring their access to information and services on sexual and reproductive health, and access to education. She also expressed appreciation for the leadership of the Human Rights Council on the issue. She cautioned against false separations between human 5