Tell Congress: Pass the Child Marriage Act Before Time Runs Out

Tell Congress: Pass the Child Marriage Act Before Time Runs Out

The Issue

The U.S. Senate passed The International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act -- but now the bill moves to the House and Congress is going to adjourn soon for the year. 

We need the House to follow the Senate's lead and help eliminate the harmful practice of child marriage. You can help -- make sure your legislators know where you stand on child marriage. 

Worldwide, more than 60 million girls between the ages of 20 and 24 were married before the age of 18 - often at the encouragement of their parents and often to much older men - with no say in the decision.  

Child marriage instigates a myriad of educational, social, and health challenges for girls who are married too young. Child brides run a very high risk of complications in pregnancy and childbirth, are more likely to experience gender-based violence, and are highly vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.  

In order for the Act to become law, we need the House of Representatives to follow the Senate's lead and pass this legislation before Congress adjourns this year. Ask your Congressperson to pass the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act now. Time is running out! 

avatar of the starter
International Women's Health CoalitionPetition StarterAt <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a> I am Senior Director of Client Services. Before joining the team at <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a>, I worked as Senior Campaigner at Care2 and for two years I worked as Senior Consultant at M+R Strategic Services. My foray into online organizing began in 2004, when I co-founded Equality Ohio, an LGBT rights organization and a member organization of the national Equality Federation. In my spare time I tend a small flock of chickens in my Oakland backyard.
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This petition had 319 supporters

The Issue

The U.S. Senate passed The International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act -- but now the bill moves to the House and Congress is going to adjourn soon for the year. 

We need the House to follow the Senate's lead and help eliminate the harmful practice of child marriage. You can help -- make sure your legislators know where you stand on child marriage. 

Worldwide, more than 60 million girls between the ages of 20 and 24 were married before the age of 18 - often at the encouragement of their parents and often to much older men - with no say in the decision.  

Child marriage instigates a myriad of educational, social, and health challenges for girls who are married too young. Child brides run a very high risk of complications in pregnancy and childbirth, are more likely to experience gender-based violence, and are highly vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.  

In order for the Act to become law, we need the House of Representatives to follow the Senate's lead and pass this legislation before Congress adjourns this year. Ask your Congressperson to pass the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act now. Time is running out! 

avatar of the starter
International Women's Health CoalitionPetition StarterAt <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a> I am Senior Director of Client Services. Before joining the team at <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a>, I worked as Senior Campaigner at Care2 and for two years I worked as Senior Consultant at M+R Strategic Services. My foray into online organizing began in 2004, when I co-founded Equality Ohio, an LGBT rights organization and a member organization of the national Equality Federation. In my spare time I tend a small flock of chickens in my Oakland backyard.
Media inquiries

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Petition created on December 9, 2010