Between 2000 and 2018, over 300,000 minors were married in the United States, with most being girls wed to adult men.
Child marriage robs children of their childhoods, perpetuates cycles of poverty, and exposes them to physical and emotional harm. Girls who marry before the age of 18 are 50% more likely to drop out of high school and four times less likely to graduate from college.
Legislative action is urgently needed to establish a minimum age of marriage at 18 with no exceptions. This would ensure that all marriages are based on the full, free, and informed consent of both parties, providing essential protection for our youth and preventing them from being forced into marriages against their will.
Join Global Citizen and Freedom United in calling on lawmakers to prioritize the protection of our youth and take decisive action to end child marriage in all states across the United States. By signing the petition, you'll add your voice to the growing movement demanding legislative change.
Together, we can create a future where every child is afforded the rights and protections they deserve.