New report calls for end to child marriage in the US
2 days ago
- #gender-equality
- #human-rights
- #child-marriage
- A new report by Unchained At Last and Equality Now calls for an end to child marriage in the U.S., urging legislative reform and awareness.
- Between 2000 and 2021, over 314,000 children were legally married in the U.S., with 86% being girls, some as young as 10.
- Child marriage is most common in Nevada, Idaho, and Utah, with rates as high as 6.15 per 1,000 girls in Nevada.
- Parents often facilitate forced marriages, with some states allowing minors of any age to marry with parental or judicial approval.
- Child marriage has devastating impacts, including health risks, loss of education, economic hardship, and increased vulnerability to violence.
- Legal loopholes enable child trafficking for marriage, with nearly 5,000 minors obtaining green cards via spousal visas between 2007-2017.
- The U.S. has pledged to end child marriage by 2030, but 34 states still permit it, with advocacy groups pushing for nationwide prohibition.
- Misogyny is cited as a reason for slow legislative progress, as most child marriages involve girls wed to adult men.