2025
“Parliament Votes to Ban Child Marriage,” Newsbook Malta (July 23, 2025). Malta’s parliament passed sweeping legislation that addressed forced marriage in multiple ways. The bill was backed unanimously by Parliament and will become law as soon as the President gives her assent. It bans child marriage by banning marriage under age 18, and alters the criminal code on forced marriage to clarify that the provisions include “any religious or civil ceremony of marriage, whether or not legally binding.” Read more.
Clara Bates, “Missouri Governor Signs Bill Banning State from Seizing Foster Kids’ Benefits. The Legislation Also Bans Child Marriage and Void Non-Disclosure Agreements in Child Sex Abuse Cases,” Missouri Independent (July 9, 2025). Missouri Governor Kehoe signed a bill into law that takes on multiple issues related to vulnerable children in the state, including a ban on marriage under age 18. Previous Missouri law had a minimum marriage age of 16, and allowed anyone under age 21 to marry an older minor if the minor’s parent consented. The bill garnered broad bipartisan support this year, culminating multiple years of effort by legislators, survivors, and advocates. Read more.
Chris McCall, “Child Marriages in Scotland Could be Banned as SNP Government to Look at Raising Age of Consent,” Daily Record (July 8, 2025). Scotland’s SNP Government has confirmed that it will formally consider raising the country’s minimum marriage age from 16 to 18, in response to calls from survivors and advocates to ban child marriage. The issue is complicated by Scotland’s age of majority laws, which grant many of the rights of adulthood at age 16 rather than waiting until 18 as is done in England and Wales, where the age of marriage was raised to 18 in 2023. Read more.
“Child Marriage Survivor Urges Canada to Outlaw Child Marriage,” Daily Kos (July 8, 2025). Samra was just 16 when her parents forced her to marry a stranger, 11 years her senior. She endured years of abuse, but found the strength and support she needed to leave. Today Samra has three degrees, a chosen family, and a career as a physician and advocate calling on Canada to ban underage marriage. Read more.
Karina Gaberkorn, Nargiz Khamrabaeva, Roman Kim, and Azattyq Asia, “Forced into Underage Marriages, Kyrgzy and Tajik Girls See Dreams Derailed,” Radio Free Europe (July 18, 2025). Nigora was just 17 when her father decided she should marry a distant relative. Once married, she had to stop attending school so she could do chores for her new husband and his family. Countless stories like Nigora’s play out across Tajikistan and elsewhere in Central Asia, where girls are frequently forced to marry as children. Read more.
“Kazakhstan Criminalizes Forced Marriage in Effort to Combat Modern Slavery,” Walk Free Foundation (June 25, 2025). Kazakhstan’s parliament, the Majilis, has passed amendments to the country’s Criminal Code that officially criminalize forced marriage. The new law introduces penalties including fines, correctional labor, restriction of freedom, and imprisonment for up to 2 years for a new crime designated as “Coercion to Enter into Marriage.” Penalties increase if the crime involves violence against a minor, is committed by two or more people, or includes the abuse of an official position. Read more.
Angelique Chrisafis, “Disneyland Paris Calls in Police Over Alleged Fake Wedding with Child ‘Bride,’” The Guardian (June 22, 2025). French police questioned two people after Disneyland Paris was hired for an alleged fake marriage ceremony involving a girl aged about nine. The theme park had bene hired for what was presumed to be a genuine private wedding; staff then called the authorities when they saw that the “bride” was a young child. All parties involved, including the guests and young bride, had allegedly been paid to attend the event. Read more.
“Ending Child Marriage: A Survivor’s Mission for Change with Donna Simmons,” KMET: Moments with Marianne (June 8, 2025). Donna Simmons is a wife, mother, author, and dedicated advocate for breaking cycles of generational trauma and supporting mental health recovery. Appointed by the Governor to the Kentucky Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, she collaborates with leaders across the state to reduce juvenile system involvement and strengthen protective factors for at-risk youth. She is also a survivor of child marriage, whose personal journey fuels her mission. She discusses her memoir: Ashes to Flame. Listen here.
Melissa Fyfe, “‘Excuse me. I’ve Killed my Wife’: The Ongoing Menace of Forced Marriage in Australia,” The Sydney Morning Herald (May 31, 2025). Women threatened with forced marriage in Australia face a stark choice: stay put and powerless, or pursue a risky road to freedom. Several survivors share their stories of escaping forced marriage in Australia, and speak about the advocates who helped them as they sought safety. Read more.
“Lackawanna Man Sentenced for Role in Kidnapping Plot to Force Sister’s Marriage,” Finger Lakes 1 (May 15, 2025). A New York man was sentenced to three years in federal prison for his role in a family’s plan to kidnap his sister and force her into an unwanted marriage in Yemen. He and his father abducted his sister, transported her via Egypt into Yemen, and held her against her will for over a year as they attempted to force her to marry. His father awaits sentencing for his own involvement in the case. Read more.
Evy Lewis, “Missouri Legislature Votes to Ban Child Marriage Raising Age to 18,” St. Louis Public Radio (April 29, 20225). Missouri’s Senate voted to ban all child marriage, sending legislation to the governor’s desk for approval for the first time. Current law allows children age 16 or 17 to marry in certain circumstances. The legislation banning all marriage under age 18 won broad, bipartisan support in both chambers. Read more.
Jess Huff, “Bill to Ban Child Marriages in Texas Advances in the House,” The Texas Tribune (May 13, 2025). The Texas House of Representatives advances legislation to ban all child marriages in the state, a new high water mark for the years-long effort to prohibit marriage under age 18. House Bill 168 won bipartisan support in a preliminary 83-51 vote. Read more.
Christina Jedra, “Adults Can Still Marry at 15 after Death of Proposed Ban in Hawai’i,” Honolulu Civil Beat (May 6, 2025). Current law allows children as young as 15 to marry in Hawai’i, an abuse that would have been banned by a bill prohibiting marriage under age 18. The bill’s main opponent was Senator Joy San Buenaventura, who chairs the Senate’s Health and Human Services committee and declined to give the bill a hearing. Read more.
Billy Kobin, “Janet Mills Lets Maine Child Marriage Ban Become Law without her Signature,” Bangor Daily News (May 6, 2025). Maine has banned child marriage, as Governor Janet Mills allowed a bill raising the state’s minimum marriage age to 18 to become law without her signature. This builds on previous efforts in which Maine first set a minimum age of 16, then raised it to 17 before finally banning child marriage entirely this year. Read more.
“What Can We Do to End Child Marriages in the US?” Between Friends Podcast (May 2025). Casey Swegman of Tahirih Justice Center joins Nandini Ray to discuss child marriage in the United States on a Policy Matters episode of Maitri’s Between Friends podcast. They discuss the prevalence of child marriage in the U.S., why age matters, and what can be done to prevent children facing the harms of a forced underage marriage. Listen here.
“Melbourne Court Rejects Appeal Bid for Mum who Forced Daughter to Marry Killer,” news.com.au (March 21, 2025). An Australian mother who forced her 16-year-old daughter to marry a man who later became a convicted killer has had her appeal rejected by a Melbourne court. She was previously sentenced to two years in jail after being found guilty of arranging the illegal marriage. The case marked Australia’s first prosecution under forced marriage laws. Judges upheld the sentence, emphasizing the mother’s breach of trust and the serious harm caused. Read more.
“Bill to Eliminate Child Marriage in Missouri Nears Governor’s Desk,” KY3 (March 10, 2025). Missouri’s bill to ban child marriage, sponsored by Senator Tracy McCreery, is nearing the governor’s desk. It prohibits marriage under 18 with no exceptions. The Senate passed it with strong support, except for one dissenting vote. Advocates say it will protect minors from exploitation, aligning Missouri with other states banning child marriage. Read more.
“Oregon Senate Passes Bill to Raise Minimum Marriage Age to 18,” KPIC4 (March 10, 2025). The Oregon Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 548, raising the state’s minimum marriage age to 18 without exceptions. Previously, 17-year-olds could marry with parental consent. Advocates argue this change is crucial to protect minors from exploitation and align Oregon with other states enacting similar legislation. The bill now proceeds to the Oregon House for consideration. Read more.
“I was Raised in a Cult & Forced to ‘Marry’ a Man, 67, at the Age of Three – I Escaped but so Many are Still in Danger,” The Sun (March 3, 2025). Serena Kelley was born into the Children of God, a cult led by David Berg. At just three years old, she was forced into a child “marriage” with the 67-year-old cult leader, orchestrated by her mother. She endured severe abuse while growing up in the cult’s communes worldwide. At 18, she escaped and has since rebuilt her life, working in IT, studying at university, and living in Mexico City. Now a trauma recovery coach, she raises awareness about child trafficking and cult abuse, emphasizing the importance of recognizing manipulation tactics. Read more.
“One Year After Total Child Marriage Ban, New Hampshire Considers New Exceptions,” The Fulcrum (February 25, 2025). A proposed amendment to New Hampshire’s child marriage law, which banned marriages under age 18 without exceptions last year, would create an exception for 17-year-olds to marry active-duty service members. Proponents argue that this would allow minors to access military benefits, but critics point out that such exceptions could perpetuate child exploitation and harm. Read more.
“Minimum Age for Marriage Increasing,” The Portugal News (February 23, 2025). Portugal’s Parliament has approved a law to raise the legal minimum marriage age to 18, aiming to provide stronger protection for children and young people. The new legislation bans child, early, and forced marriages, categorizing them as high-risk situations under child protection laws. Previously, minors could marry at 16 with parental consent. Read more.
“South Dakota Senate Rejects Bill to Raise Minimum Marriage Age, Advocates Concerned for Youth Safety,” mykxlg.com (February 20, 2025). The South Dakota Senate voted 19-16 against Senate Bill 156, which would have raised the minimum marriage age to 18, closing an exception that currently allows 16- and 17-year-olds to marry with parental consent. Advocates, including Senator Sydney Davis, expressed concern that the current law leaves minors vulnerable to exploitation, citing over 800 child marriages in the state since 2000. Supporters vowed to continue advocating for protections against child marriage in future efforts. Read more.
“Utah Legislature Approves Bill Forbidding Minors from Marrying Someone Four Years Older,” Utah News Dispatch (February 20, 2025). The Utah Legislature passed SB76, a bill that decreases the age gap allowed between partners to a marriage from 7 to 4 years, if either partner is a minor. The bill also creates a new 72-hour waiting period between the granting of permission for a minor to marry and the issuance of a marriage license. Despite some debate, the bill received broad support and now awaits Governor Spencer Cox’s signature to become law. Read more.
“Kuwait Raises Minimum Marriage Age to 18,” MSN (February 15, 2025). Kuwait has raised the minimum marriage age to 18, citing high divorce rates among minors and aligning with international child protection standards. The reform aims to safeguard children, reduce divorces, and strengthen family stability. Read more.
“91 Forced Marriage Reports Across Australia Prompt Call for Schools to Take Action,” SBS News (January 31, 2025). In the 2022-23 financial year, the Australian Federal Police received 91 reports of forced marriage. The article emphasizes the need for educational institutions to play a proactive role in identifying and preventing forced marriages, given their unique position to observe early warning signs among students. Read more.
