Category : united states
Panel Event: A New Vision for Addressing Forced Marriage in the United States
A panel of national experts discussed how the United States National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence addresses forced and child marriage. Panelists include:
- Alena Victor, Chief Program Officer, Womankind
- Grace Huang, Directory of Policy, API-GBV
- Shenna Morris, Director of Policy, NRCDV
- Dr. Nusrat Ameen, Senior Director, Daya
- Casey Swegman, Director of Public Policy, Tahirih Justice Center
Read the full Framework for Addressing Forced and Child Marriage in the U.S. National Action to End Gender Based Violence here.
The Alignment of U.S. Child Marriage Laws to Data and Consent: Time for a Bright-Line Rule at the Age of Majority
Author: Andrea Jeglum
Published: Fall 2021
In this article, published in the Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender & Society, the author traces the legal and social history of laws allowing for child marriage in the United States, as well as attempts by states to protect children without fully ending child marriage. She concludes that these efforts to limit child marriage through parental consent or judicial approval conditions have failed, and that the only viable way to address the issue is for each state to set it’s minimum marriage age at the age of majority. Read more.
Framework for Addressing Forced and Child Marriage in the U.S. National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence
Authors: Forced Marriage Working Group
Publication: October, 2021
This Framework is the result of months of collaboration and consultation with our partners in the National Forced Marriage Working Group, and is the first document of its kind charting a comprehensive path forward on the issue of forced and child marriage in the U.S. The Framework calls for an intersectional approach to supporting survivors rooted in anti-oppression and anti-racism, increased awareness among service providers, advocates, and policy makers as well as a coordinated whole of government response, dedicated funding streams to enhance programs and services, and support for research and policy change at the state and federal level. Read more.
Naming the Harm and Meeting the Unmet Mental Health Needs of Forced Marriage Survivors in the United States
Dr. Neha Batool highlights the most recent research findings about women’s experiences with forced marriage and identifies the underlying mechanisms that influence the experience of forced marriages. She focuses on women’s psychological wellbeing prior to, during, and after the forced marriage and discusses both short-term and long-term mental health challenges related to attachment styles, identity development, gender socialization, and intergenerational influences.
What Does the American Public Know about Child Marriage?
Authors: David W. Lawson, Rachel Lynes, Addison Morris, Susan B. Schaffnit
Published: September 23, 2020
This study examined what the public in the United States knows about the issue of child marriage, both worldwide and within the U.S. itself. Researchers discovered significant misconceptions on both fronts, including a widespread and incorrect belief that child marriage was illegal in all 50 states. Read more.
