Child marriage, defined as a formal marriage or informal union before the age of 18, disproportionately affects girls around the world.  It is a human rights violation that legitimizes abuse and denies girls' autonomy under the guise of culture, honor, tradition, and religion.

Child marriage, defined as a formal marriage or informal union before the age of 18, disproportionately affects girls around the world.  It is a human rights violation that legitimizes abuse and denies girls' autonomy under the guise of culture, honor, tradition, and religion.

On Wednesday 23rd October, the Tanzania Court of Appeal has upheld the landmark 2016 ruling by the High Court which increased the minimum age of marriage for girls and boys from 14 and 15 years respectively to 18 years.

On Wednesday 23rd October, the Tanzania Court of Appeal has upheld the landmark 2016 ruling by the High Court which increased the minimum age of marriage for girls and boys from 14 and 15 years respectively to 18 years.

An estimated 248,000 children were married in the U.S. between 2000-2010, 77 percent of whom were girls married to adult men. It’s a shocking number that many are surprised to hear. And many are just, if not more surprised, to hear that child “marriage” is legal in the vast majority of U.S. states.

An estimated 248,000 children were married in the U.S. between 2000-2010, 77 percent of whom were girls married to adult men. It’s a shocking number that many are surprised to hear. And many are just, if not more surprised, to hear that child “marriage” is legal in the vast majority of U.S. states.

“When I returned to my school they asked why I had been absent for three months. I told my teacher it was because my father was organizing a wedding for me and I had escaped with no money. My teacher said she would contact my parents, but they didn’t respond. Finally, they sent my brother to speak with the village leader.  He was told to lie and say I wasn’t to be married.”

“When I returned to my school they asked why I had been absent for three months. I told my teacher it was because my father was organizing a wedding for me and I had escaped with no money. My teacher said she would contact my parents, but they didn’t respond. Finally, they sent my brother to speak with the village leader.  He was told to lie and say I wasn’t to be married.”

I come from a small village in Georgia, where people think girls don’t need a good education because we’re expected to get married young and there is nothing else for us to do but stay home and have children.

I come from a small village in Georgia, where people think girls don’t need a good education because we’re expected to get married young and there is nothing else for us to do but stay home and have children.

Child “marriage” is a human rights violation that impacts women and girls, along with their families and communities, in a variety of overlapping ways. Regardless of where in the world she lives, child “marriage” deprives a girl of a future in which she can reach her full potential and furthers a dangerous cycle of oppression and harm.

Child “marriage” is a human rights violation that impacts women and girls, along with their families and communities, in a variety of overlapping ways. Regardless of where in the world she lives, child “marriage” deprives a girl of a future in which she can reach her full potential and furthers a dangerous cycle of oppression and harm.

Loyia, 37, knows all too well the human rights violations that go hand-in-hand with child “marriage”. Growing up in rural Uganda, she went to school for just three years as her parents could not afford her education and at 15-years-old she was forced to marry.

Loyia, 37, knows all too well the human rights violations that go hand-in-hand with child “marriage”. Growing up in rural Uganda, she went to school for just three years as her parents could not afford her education and at 15-years-old she was forced to marry.