Fatemah, survivor advocate against forced child marriage in U.S. Every three seconds, a child becomes a victim of marriage.1 This egregious child rights violation robs millions of their childhoods, substituting a life of misery and hardship.
Girls like Maria*, who at 13 was forced to become the sixth wife of a 70-year-old man. When she resisted, her father told her: “If you don’t go to join your husband, I will kill you.”2
Join our movement to end forced child marriage and help girls like Maria.
Right now world leaders, government officials and civil society can make ending forced marriage a priority. Sustainable Development Goal 5.3 has put ending forced marriage on the global agenda and with our support for this goal we can help change the lives of girls like Maria for the better.
But we need people like you to help push governments and civil society to make ending this abhorrent practice a priority.
Case by case, country by country, we will push lawmakers and politicians to protect children from this abhorrent practice.
Want to know more about forced child marriage around the world – check out our blog here!
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Freedom United is interested in hearing from our community and welcomes relevant, informed comments, advice, and insights that advance the conversation around our campaigns and advocacy. We value inclusivity and respect within our community. To be approved, your comments should be civil.
Forced marriage has been a common practice in many societies world wide that it has become the norm in some cultures. I think one of the best way to eradicate this practice is by educating those cultures that support the practice of its effect on child human right, yes “ every child has the right to be a child and enjoy their freedom as children”. Additionally, the mentality of believing that women should only be subjected to their husband without having goals for themselves should be addressed.
True if we could find politicians who will take a stand and defend girl’s rights as the politicians also need educating!!
“I think one of the best way to eradicate this practice is by educating those cultures that support the practice of its effect on child human rights…”
Ironically, one of those cultures that needs to be educated is apparently the U.S. In many states, marriage to a minor is still legal under some conditions.
If that’s the story in the richest, most powerful nation on earth, we really do have a long way to go.
To marry a girl below 18 years age be declared cognisable offence
Every human has the right to make their own decisions, and a happy life. And forced marriage should hold a prison sentence for all those who are involved, in forcing a person to marry against their own will. Why do some think they have the right to take what they want.
Child forced marriage needs to be made illegal in every country and it should carry very heavy penalties.
How any man can try to justify marriage to a child is beyond me, it is nothing less than legalised child abuse, resulting all too often life changing injury or death following a miscarriage.
Children should be having a good childhood, NOT a child.
I would feel terrified if I was a child and a man who is suppose to be my husband does things to me I do not like.its not right its child abuse and the poor girls can die when their internal organs have to try and carry a baby as they are not developed enough..they can get damaged..its bad enough to be raped but when a child has a childs mind,think how frightened they are…😪
This disgusts me a child of that age is a child, shes not fully developed until 16 years old, that man should know better hes a grandfather probably does he have any idea what he is doing, my daughter is involved with an older man butbshes now 42, shebfirst started dating him at 27 years old, hes 35 years older than her what is the fascination for older men wanting younger girls, theyre bloody perverts , phadeos , it makes me sick to the core, I pray and pray this gets stopped never to happen .
Sometimes its money the woman is attracted too,or maybe a father figure,but the man gets his thrill of a younger woman who he can do with what he wants,but its still disgusting..