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Join the fight against forced child marriage

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Join the fight and help end forced marriage throughout the world! Stop forced child marriage in the United States by outlawing child marriage in all states.

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. Our goal is to fight forced child marriage all around the world.

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 and how to fight it around the world – check out our blog here!

Notes:

February 18, 2025: Victory! Colombia bans child marriage without exception.After 17 years and 8 failed attempts, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has enacted law 2447 of 2025 banning child marriage in the country.
July 2, 2024: Sierra Leone has passed a bill to ban child marriages in the country! The law imposes strict penalties on anyone involved with marrying children.
March 7, 2024: Pressure on U.S. states to ban child marriage is growing. Join the momentum and sign our petition targeting U.S. lawmakers!
February 21, 2024: The ban on child marriage in England and Wales we helped enforce is not stopping forced marriage abroad. Read more.
Dec 13, 2013: Campaign Launches

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George

7 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.

Steve S

5 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.

Lita Wahab

7 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.

Neal Marchuk

4 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

6 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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Maria L.
10:13 PM, July 10, 2025
Ronaldy H.
10:50 AM, July 10, 2025
Louisa S.
8:05 AM, July 10, 2025