Speaking Our Stories on May 4th, 2021 at 12 noon (PST) - a Mental Health Awareness Event Initiative
Hi Everyone,
I hope you’re all doing well. It’s been a while since I posted an update and wanted to keep you all informed about the developments in the fight to end child marriage and to end forced marriage. The fight continues, but there are still only 4 states that have raised the marriage age to 18 and this is unacceptable.
No child under the age of 18 should be married, there is absolutely no reason for that to occur, and in fact, it is a human rights abuse to let that happen. If children are too young to smoke and drink until they are 21, what makes anyone think they are ready to enter into marriage? Marriage should be between two consenting adults and children cannot consent until they are adults. Reaching the adult age does not happen until you are 18. It is just so unjust that currently judges will sign off on marriage applications when a parent consents to the marriage of the under age child, when we know it is the parents that want these marriages to happen, and not the children! Why do the judges not know this? Why are the legislators ignorant of this? Why aren’t steps being taken to protect children and not have them put into this horrific situation where they are being forced into marriage while all the adults around them turn a blind eye and let all kinds of atrocities occur because of the court order that the judge will sign off on once he sees the parents consent?
We really just need to spread awareness about the injustices that are happening, the ignorance that remains and to just generally let the public know this is a human rights abuse! Kids need to be kids, not husbands or wives! Please watch my upcoming talk on May 4th, 2021 at 12 noon (PST) where I will be talking at my work along with other speakers in an effort to let listeners know that our stories need to be heard, our trauma affects our mental health, and until we share our stories, how can anyone know about the injustices we’ve experienced? I look forward to you attending the event. Please use the link below on May 4th.