Maine bans child marriage!

Maine has raised the legal age of marriage to 18, officially joined the growing list of U.S. states that are standing up for children’s rights by banning child marriage—without exceptions.

Until now, children as young as 16 could be legally married in Maine with parental consent. Thanks to the tireless efforts of advocates and lawmakers no child in Maine will be forced into a marriage they cannot legally escape.

This is a critical win in the nationwide campaign to end child marriage across the U.S. Fourteen states down, thirty six to go! Every state that steps up strengthens the movement—and Maine just sent a powerful message.

Let’s keep going. Every child, in every state, deserves the same protection.