Take Action
Urge Congress to Stop Child Marriage
There are an estimated 60 million child brides worldwide, some as young as 7 years old. If the present trend continues, another 100 million girls will be forced into marriage over the next decade.
But right now our members of Congress have the opportunity to do something to protect these innocent children. A new bill would give the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) more power to work with countries around the world to fight child marriage – but it’s up to us to make sure it passes. Please send a message to your legislators, urging them to protect girls from child marriage by supporting this critical bill.
Dear [Decision-maker],
I know you agree with me that child marriage is an extremely pressing human rights issue. I was recently shocked to discover that there are an estimated 60 million child brides worldwide and if we don’t act now, 100 million more girls will be forced to marry over the next decade.
Please help protect these innocent girls by supporting (HR 2103/S.987) The International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2009 which permanently establishes the Office of Global Women’s Issues to promote the health and rights of women and girls and includes important provisions to prevent child marriage, including:
I know you agree with me that child marriage is an extremely pressing human rights issue. I was recently shocked to discover that there are an estimated 60 million child brides worldwide and if we don’t act now, 100 million more girls will be forced to marry over the next decade.
Please help protect these innocent girls by supporting (HR 2103/S.987) The International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2009 which permanently establishes the Office of Global Women’s Issues to promote the health and rights of women and girls and includes important provisions to prevent child marriage, including:
- Requiring the U.S. State Department to address the status of child marriage in countries with high child marriage rates in its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices;
- Requiring the White House to create a plan to combat child marriage; and
- Integrating child marriage prevention into pre-existing development programs through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
I hope I can count on you to stand up for girls around the world.