Success: Child Marriages to Girls as Young as 13 Abolished

Target: Cassandra Levesque, Member of Girl Scouts of America

Goal: Praise efforts to end marriages involving children as young as 13.

A dedicated Girl Scout recently took on one of the nation’s most hidden and prevalent human rights violations…and prevailed. As highlighted in this ForceChange petition and reinforced in this petition, child marriage remains one of the most shameful legal relics in the United States. Thanks to the efforts of dedicated advocates, however, the state that previously had the lowest age limit for marriage, New Hampshire, has now raised this limit to 16.

The early 1900s-era law, much like similar state laws across the country, permitted marriage involving a minor if the marriage received parental consent and the approval of a family court. Parental consent can be an insidious guideline, however, because in an abundance of cases involving child marriage the parents are the driving force behind the union. Many of these children are forcibly married to much older individuals, and instances have even been reported of young girls being forced to marry their rapists.

Unfortunately, efforts to stop this legalized form of child abuse have often died in state legislative chambers due largely to concerns about violating ‘religious liberties,’ as many child and other arranged marriages adhere to religious customs. In fact, the original New Hampshire effort would have raised the age limit for marriage to 18, but that proposal did not pass. Advocates and lawmakers achieved a critical compromise with the recent New Hampshire decision, signaling the promise of progress within the dozens of other states where child marriage is still sanctioned.

Sign this petition to praise the young advocate who saw a hidden problem plaguing her state and forced change in the most impactful way.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Ms. Levesque,

After a year-plus-long trajectory, you scored a landmark victory for New Hampshire’s children, and perhaps for children across the country. No longer will the voices of children be silenced and their rights rescinded in favor of archaic traditions.

You also taught all of us an important lesson about never resting on complacency and never giving up. You approached your state Congress over a year ago well-prepared and with a clear plan of action. When they refused to listen, you did not surrender. You connected with the necessary allies and rallied people across the nation to your cause, making it their cause.

You made them listen. You made us listen. Congratulations, thank you, and we have every hope that this seemingly small but monumental step will resonate nationwide and encourage other steps to step up and step forward for their children.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Cory Doctorow