During this webinar, the Forced Marriage Initiative provides tips for hotline advocates who encounter cases of forced marriage in their work.

Forced marriage is a significant, yet hidden problem in the United States that impacts individuals of every socioeconomic status, ethnic, religious and cultural background. More often than not, forced marriage is just one part of a spectrum of other harms that an individual who is forced to marry may face in their lifetime. In fact, forced marriage can often lurk behind the issues that first present themselves including mental health concerns, physical and psychological abuse, sexual assault and rape. Advocates at the National, State, and Local Hotline level are on the front lines of victim response and can often be the first point of contact for individuals at risk and survivors of forced marriage seeking assistance and support.

Author: Tahirih Justice Center

Publication: November, 2019

This resource, created by the Tahirih Justice Center’s Forced Marriage Initiative, provides advice and guidance for hotline advocates who may encounter cases of forced marriage in their work. It includes a definition of forced marriage, a note on mandated reporting, red flags that may indicate a threat of forced marriage, and advice for how to speak to individuals who may be at risk.

Author: Tahirih Justice Center

Publication: February 13th, 2017

Forced and child marriage in Texas is a serious problem with a simple, first-step solution — ensuring that only legal adults empowered to advocate for themselves can enter the legal contract and potentially lifelong commitment that marriage entails. SB 1705 / HB 3932 is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that sets the legal minimum marriage age at 18, with an exception for minors emancipated by court order. Read our backgrounder to learn more about the child marriage problem in Texas, how the current laws fail to prioritize child protection, and how this bill addresses the problem.

Author: Tahirih Justice Center

Published: November 8th, 2016

Child marriage remains a serious problem in present-day America that has devastating, lifelong consequences. Read this backgrounder to learn more about the prevalence of child marriage in the United States, the laws that allow it to persist, and the ways in which it denies young people the opportunity to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

Author: Tahirih Justice Center

Publication: June 01, 2016

This report on the June 2016 national consultation on the question of forced marriage criminalization illustrates the complexity of forced marriage cases and details advocates’ diverse perspectives on the potential risks and benefits of making forced marriage a criminal offense in the United States. The meeting was organized by the Forced Marriage Initiative at the Tahirih Justice Center and brought together 30 participants from across the United States.