Updates are available Correction dated 2026-02-25

Article History

Received: 11 July 2025

Accepted: 13 November 2025

First Online: 27 November 2025

Change Date: 16 October 2023

Change Type: Update

Change Details: The original online version of this article was revised: In the sentence beginning ‘Despite high enrolment rates…’ the age range of ‘(15-24)’ was incorrectly denoted as references. In addition, in the Authors’ contributions statement, the initials ‘AKAE’ were incorrectly given as ‘AA’ in the sentence ‘AKAE provided key input and conducted a detailed review’. The article has been updated to rectify the errors.

Change Date: 25 February 2026

Change Type: Correction

Change Details: A Correction to this paper has been published:

Change Details: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-026-02782-6

Declarations

:

: The research team and Break Free! Sudan team thoroughly discussed the necessity of continuing the research during the ongoing war, concluding that the study was vital due to the lack of research on child marriage laws and the anecdotal increase in child marriage caused by the conflict. Before the war started in April 2023, the team applied for local ethics approval from the Ministry of Social Affairs, but the proposal was not reviewed as it fell outside their scope. Therefore, ethical approval was sought and obtained from the KIT Institute Research Ethics Committee. The research was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Participants received comprehensive information introducing the study prior to consenting (written consent). They were informed of the confidentiality of their input and their right to withdraw consent. The consent form included contact details of a local counsellor in case referral was needed.

: Not applicable.

: Asha Khalil Abdalla Elkarib has had a long-standing association with Sudanese Organisation for Research and Development (SORD), a forerunner in advocating for legal reform in Sudan. The authors declare that they have no other competing interests.