Jeremy Cordeaux Questions Plan International’s Child Marriage Campaign

In the latest Garage Edition of The Court of Public Opinion (Sept 25, 2025), Jeremy Cordeaux took aim at the television ads from global NGO Plan International, which claim that “every three seconds an underage girl is sold off into marriage.”

A $10-a-Month Plea

The campaign asks Australians to donate $10 a month to help prevent young girls from being forced into marriage, with ads highlighting that some girls become mothers as early as nine years old.

Jeremy, however, cast doubt on the effectiveness of such fundraising efforts. He argued the ads may be more about money and marketing than truly saving children.

“I don’t believe for one second that this is going to save the little girl or the little girls — because there are many.”

@auscastnetwork Concerns arise over Plan International's ads. Some question if donations truly address the root causes of underage marriage and its cultural ties. #PlanInternational #ChildMarriage #Controversy #SocialIssues #Donations #jeremycordeaux #thecourtofpublicopinion #auscastnetwork ♬ original sound – Auscast Network

Calling Out the Root Cause

Cordeaux suggested the campaign fails to address what he sees as the deeper cultural and religious issues driving child marriage. He directly questioned whether charitable donations can change long-standing traditions and interpretations of religious texts.

Referring to the Quran, he claimed it allows for the marriage of girls at a very young age, raising the question of who decides when a girl is “ready.”

“Why don’t you go to the cause of the problem, Plan International? Have you read the Quran?”

Supporting or Challenging Culture?

Jeremy went further, saying that Australians donating may inadvertently support the very culture these ads claim to oppose. In his view, unless the underlying teachings are addressed, charity alone won’t resolve the issue.

“While there are over one billion people who believe in and follow the Quran, what is the point of Australians giving ten dollars a month to try and save children from this culture? You are in fact, in a way, supporting this culture.”

A Risky Conversation

Cordeaux acknowledged that challenging such teachings comes with risks, referencing author Salman Rushdie, who has lived under constant threat since the release of The Satanic Verses.

What do you think?

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