No one should have their childhood taken away from them. Child marriage is a crime, a violation of innocence. In Mississippi, Section 93 of the Mississippi Code 1972, children as young as 15 can legally marry with parental consent, and there are no minimum age requirements if a judge approves the marriage. This outdated law puts vulnerable children at risk of exploitation and abuse.

According to the Tahirih Justice Center, nearly 300,000 minors were married in the U.S. between 2000 and 2018. Many of these marriages involve significant age differences and power imbalances that can lead to lifelong trauma for the child involved.

It's time for Mississippi to protect its children by raising the minimum marriage age to 18 without exceptions. Let's ensure every child has the opportunity to grow up free from coercion and harm.

Currently there is only one organization battling to end Child marriage, because of Founder Fraidy Reiss of Unchained at last, they were able to end child marriage in another 11 states. 

Globally, one in every five girls is formally married or in an informal union before reaching age 18.
In the least developed countries, 36% of girls are married before age 18, and 10% before age 15.
Approximately 650 million women and girls alive today were married before their 18th birthday.
At least 12 million girls are married before age 18 every year.
It will take 300 years to end child marriage at current rates of progress. 

Code Section: Mississippi Code 93-1-5
Minimum Legal Age With Parental Consent
Male: 17; Female: 15
Minimum Legal Age Without Parental Consent
Male: 21; Female: 21 
Minors under minimum age may obtain license with parental consent and approval of court. Minor females age 15 yrs. and older and males 17 yrs. and older but under 21 may obtain license with parental consent and court order.

Child marriage is currently legal is 38 states! 

Please join us, in giving another child their freedom to be a child. 

Sign this petition to urge Mississippi lawmakers to end child marriage now!

Image by Teen Vogue - Tallulah Fontaine