Throughout the world, marriage is celebrated as a happy event. But for some children - mostly girls who have a husband forced upon them - their wedding marks a premature end to their childhood.

Child marriage is a harmful traditional practice and a violation of human rights. In five countries of Sub-Saharan Africa and in Bangladesh, more than 60% of women were married before the age of 18. Child marriage is more common in rural settings than in urban ones and more common in poor families than in wealthier ones. Education is critical; women with primary education are significantly less likely to be married as children than those who received no education.

Child marriage often leads to separation from family and friends, lack of freedom, and decreased opportunities for education and economic participation.

Because early marriage is usually tied to early pregnancy, girls married at a young age also face serious health risks - a girl under age 16 is five times more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth than a woman between the ages of 20 to 24.

Though the United States supports many programs that assist children and mothers, there is no specific U.S. Government focus on the problem of child marriage.

Bipartisan legislation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate would bolster U.S. efforts to prevent child marriage. Both bills require a strategy to incorporate child marriage prevention into existing development, health, and education programs; and set aside funding for programs to prevent child marriage.

Tell Congress to fight child marriage and save lives of underage girls all over the world.