Child Marriage
The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you.
Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision.
– Neil Gaiman
Child marriage is a global issue. Almost always, child marriage involves a girl marrying an adult man, and often a much older man. Child marriage is by definition forced marriage.
Judges in the United States are allowed to approve child marriages when the age difference should result in a statutory rape charge, not a marriage license. Child marriage interrupts or often ends a girl’s education and her access to social services. In the United States there are some astonishing contradictions associated with child marriage that leave a girl in legal limbo. If a minor wants to divorce, she is essentially seeking to modify a contract. However, minors cannot act as their own agent in a contract. The laws are contradictory by allowing the marriage but not the agency. It is essential that all states pass legislation that ban child marriage. Norway, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, and Zimbabwe are among the few countries that have banned child marriage. Almost everywhere else in the world, girls are at risk of losing their childhood, their opportunities, and their agency. There is a long way to go to meet the UN deadline of the 2030 worldwide ban. Child marriage is no less than trafficking and a human rights violation. 18 No Exceptions.
Map Updated 5/21/24
Choose a region: North America | Latin America & The Caribbean | South America | Europe | Africa | Asia | Australia
North America
Human Rights Watch defends the rights and secures justice in nearly 100 countries worldwide, including a focus on women’s and children’s rights. Human Rights Watch is working toward the realization of women’s empowerment and gender equality by ending forced child marriage, human trafficking, and violence against women, including rape. They also aim to increase access to education and political participation.
The Tahirih Justice Center is a nonpartisan, secular organization founded on the principles of the Baháʼí Faith based in the U.S. yet serves the global community. While being survivor-centered and trauma-informed, they advance unity by celebrating and honoring our diverse beliefs and identities. They believe laws and systems too often benefit those with power and privilege and must be transformed to advance gender equality, racial justice, and social equity by advocating against gender-based violence, including issues such as child marriage, domestic violence, rape, FMG/C, and human trafficking.
Latin America & The Caribbean
South America
Human Rights Watch defends the rights and secures justice in nearly 100 countries worldwide, including a focus on women’s and children’s rights. Human Rights Watch is working toward the realization of women’s empowerment and gender equality by ending forced child marriage, human trafficking, and violence against women, including rape. They also aim to increase access to education and political participation.
The Tahirih Justice Center is a nonpartisan, secular organization founded on the principles of the Baháʼí Faith based in the U.S. yet serves the global community. While being survivor-centered and trauma-informed, they advance unity by celebrating and honoring our diverse beliefs and identities. They believe laws and systems too often benefit those with power and privilege and must be transformed to advance gender equality, racial justice, and social equity by advocating against gender-based violence, including issues such as child marriage, domestic violence, rape, FMG/C, and human trafficking.
Europe
Human Rights Watch defends the rights and secures justice in nearly 100 countries worldwide, including a focus on women’s and children’s rights. Human Rights Watch is working toward the realization of women’s empowerment and gender equality by ending forced child marriage, human trafficking, and violence against women, including rape. They also aim to increase access to education and political participation.
The Tahirih Justice Center is a nonpartisan, secular organization founded on the principles of the Baháʼí Faith based in the U.S. yet serves the global community. While being survivor-centered and trauma-informed, they advance unity by celebrating and honoring our diverse beliefs and identities. They believe laws and systems too often benefit those with power and privilege and must be transformed to advance gender equality, racial justice, and social equity by advocating against gender-based violence, including issues such as child marriage, domestic violence, rape, FMG/C, and human trafficking.
Africa
Human Rights Watch defends the rights and secures justice in nearly 100 countries worldwide, including a focus on women’s and children’s rights. Human Rights Watch is working toward the realization of women’s empowerment and gender equality by ending forced child marriage, human trafficking, and violence against women, including rape. They also aim to increase access to education and political participation.
The Tahirih Justice Center is a nonpartisan, secular organization founded on the principles of the Baháʼí Faith based in the U.S. yet serves the global community. While being survivor-centered and trauma-informed, they advance unity by celebrating and honoring our diverse beliefs and identities. They believe laws and systems too often benefit those with power and privilege and must be transformed to advance gender equality, racial justice, and social equity by advocating against gender-based violence, including issues such as child marriage, domestic violence, rape, FMG/C, and human trafficking.
Asia
Human Rights Watch defends the rights and secures justice in nearly 100 countries worldwide, including a focus on women’s and children’s rights. Human Rights Watch is working toward the realization of women’s empowerment and gender equality by ending forced child marriage, human trafficking, and violence against women, including rape. They also aim to increase access to education and political participation.
The Tahirih Justice Center is a nonpartisan, secular organization founded on the principles of the Baháʼí Faith based in the U.S. yet serves the global community. While being survivor-centered and trauma-informed, they advance unity by celebrating and honoring our diverse beliefs and identities. They believe laws and systems too often benefit those with power and privilege and must be transformed to advance gender equality, racial justice, and social equity by advocating against gender-based violence, including issues such as child marriage, domestic violence, rape, FMG/C, and human trafficking.
Australia
Human Rights Watch defends the rights and secures justice in nearly 100 countries worldwide, including a focus on women’s and children’s rights. Human Rights Watch is working toward the realization of women’s empowerment and gender equality by ending forced child marriage, human trafficking, and violence against women, including rape. They also aim to increase access to education and political participation.
The Tahirih Justice Center is a nonpartisan, secular organization founded on the principles of the Baháʼí Faith based in the U.S. yet serves the global community. While being survivor-centered and trauma-informed, they advance unity by celebrating and honoring our diverse beliefs and identities. They believe laws and systems too often benefit those with power and privilege and must be transformed to advance gender equality, racial justice, and social equity by advocating against gender-based violence, including issues such as child marriage, domestic violence, rape, FMG/C, and human trafficking.