On Jan. 6th, 2021, in a historic move, the Dominican Republic officially motioned to make child marriage illegal in all forms. Under this new law, no citizen under the age of 18 will be permitted to marry under any circumstances.
This is especially important as the Dominican Republic currently has the highest rates of child marriage in Latin America. This new direction signals a brighter future for many children in the Dominican Republic and around the world. While this is an important step forward, the truth is that child marriage remains closer to home than many might assume.
As we know, child marriage remains a very real and current problem in many countries around the world. Most people are unaware how truly prevalent of a topic it is. This is not simply an international issue; child marriage continues today in the United States with little to no fanfare.
A Lack of Federal Regulation Sets a Precedent
In the United States, only four states (Deleware, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania) have taken the initiative to ban child marriage with no exceptions, leaving 46 states that allow child marriage to take place in varying degrees. This is because there is no overarching federal government regulation on the issue, allowing each individual state to set their standards regarding child marriage.
While some states have a minimum marriage age (usually around 16 or 17 years old) they also tolerate exceptions that, if met, would allow someone to be married even if they do not meet the age requirement. These exceptions can include the permission of a parent or guardian, judicial approval, or an exemption based on the pregnancy or motherhood status of the minor in question. This was also the case in the Dominican Republic prior to January 6th of 2021- as long as parents consented and a judge gave permission, a child could be entered into marriage.
In at least 13 states, there is no minimum age requirement when all exceptions are accounted for. In addition, the varying regulations between states can allow parties to travel across state lines in order to obtain a child marriage license.
The Effects of Child Marriage are Clear
Occasionally, supporters argue that child marriage between consenting parties is not as bold an offense as it may seem; for example, if both parties are within only a few years of each other, or if a young woman is pregnant. However, even in child marriages that may not appear to an outsider as such, there are clear and studied negative impacts.
“This harmful practice results in a lack of protection, inequality, lack of opportunities, and early pregnancy for girls. It also has a direct impact on the country’s economy.”
Sonia Hernandez, Assistant Director with IJM – Dominican Republic
“This harmful practice results in a lack of protection, inequality, lack of opportunities, and early pregnancy for girls. It also has a direct impact on the country’s economy,” said Sonia Hernandez, the Associate Director of Public Justice System Strengthening with International Justice Mission, an NGO that was highly influential in the banning of child marriage in the Dominican Republic.
Statistics show that in the U.S., women who marry in their teens are less likely to continue their high school or college education, more likely to live in poverty, and more likely to be victims of domestic violence than their married adult counterparts. This is also true of the Domican Republic, where higher poverty levels and economic hardships impact struggling women and victims of child marriage in even more promiment ways.
Child marriage is also often something that minors can enter into but cannot exit without great difficulty. Unchained at Last, an organization dedicated to ending child marriage in the United States, compiles resources for minors fleeing child marriages. Unfortunately, those resources are often scarce.
Essentially, it is not allowed for children in the United States to begin legal action in their own name while they are under 18 years old. This means that someone fleeing a child marriage is often unable to legally divorce or earn a restraining order against their spouse until they reach legal age.
What Can You Do to Help End Child Marriage?
Cases of child marriage where both parties are under 18 are rare. Frontline analyzed that in the United States, almost 90 percent of those entered into child marriages between 2000 and 2015 were female. Of these girls, 86 percent married legal adults. Globally, UNICEF estimates that 21 percent of young women are married before their 18th birthday.
“We have to convince people that stopping child marriage is the right thing to do. You do that by letting them know, ‘Hey, you think you’re helping your kids by letting them get married early, but you’re not. It always, always ends up hurting the kids.”
Marc Engman
In a Forbes article, Marc Engman, UNICEF Managing Director in Public Policy and Advocacy, was quoted as saying, “We have to convince people that stopping child marriage is the right thing to do. You do that by letting them know, ‘Hey, you think you’re helping your kids by letting them get married early, but you’re not. It always, always ends up hurting the kids.”
This is a mindset that must be echoed by those hoping to take a stand against child marriage. Even above law and policy, people’s minds must be changed. But how to accomplish this?
Spreading the word about child marriage in the U.S. is a good place to start. By alerting people to the worrying statistics surrounding child marriage, parents and children can be prevented from entering into a situation they do not understand. Educating families about alternatives to child marriage is also a good starting point. Studies show that while child marriage is more common in southern states such as Alabama, Kentucky, and West Virginia, the specific laws in place in states such as Idaho and California result in higher rates of child marriage.
Research the state or country that you reside in and find out more about child marriage laws. In the US, call your State Representatives and make it clear that you feel more steps need to be taken to prevent child marriage. You can also donate money and volunteer your time to NGOs and non-profits that are dedicated to ending child marriage abroad and in the United States.
More than anything else, people need to be made aware that child marriage still occurs internationally and nationally. By ensuring that people are informed of the issue and directing them to resources of change, we can aim to introduce a federal law forbidding child marriage in the United States, following the lead of the Dominican Republic. Our hope is that this mindset spreads to other countries, allowing more and more governments to join together and work to limit the number of child marriages taking place globally.
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