Join the fight against forced child marriage

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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!

Notes:

September 28, 2023: WIN! Michigan became the tenth state in the United States to pass a bill to end child marriage without any exceptions, meaning marriage before the age of 18 is officially illegal. If you can, please donate to sustain our campaign. Thank you.
July 13, 2023: The UN Human Rights Council adopts the draft resolution on child, early and forced marriage without a vote. Read the resolution here.
April 27, 2022: CAMPAIGN WIN! The bill to ban child marriage in England and Wales has passed through parliament. Previously, 16 and 17-year olds were able to get married with parental or familial consent, a legal exception that left children vulnerable to being coerced into marriages against their will. We are so proud of our campaign lead and survivor advocate, Payzee Mahmod, and to the 254,000+ in the Freedom United community who took action to help make this happen. This is testament to our collective power. Read our field report here.
August 2021: Our partner, Girls Not Brides, has published a position paper on child marriage and modern slavery. Read more here.
Dec 13, 2013: Campaign Launches

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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.

A few things we do not tolerate: comments that promote discrimination, prejudice, racism, or xenophobia, as well as personal attacks or profanity. We screen submissions in order to create a space where the entire Freedom United community feels safe to express and exchange thoughtful opinions.

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George

5 years ago

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.

Lita Wahab

5 years ago

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.

Steve S

4 years ago

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.

Neal Marchuk

3 years ago

Reply to George

“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.

pannalal nawalkha

5 years ago

To marry a girl below 18 years age be declared cognisable offence

Help end forced marriage throughout the world

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I believe marriage should be a partnership between two consenting adults. That no man, woman or child should ever be forced into a marriage.

I pledge to fight against forced marriage, in all its forms and express my support for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 5.3 to end this slavery practice by 2030.

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