Ending Child Marriage in New Hampshire: A Call for Action

Introduction

Child marriage remains a pervasive issue worldwide, with an estimated 12 million girls marrying before the age of 18 each year. In the United States, an estimated 248,000 children under the age of 18 were married between 2000 and 2010. New Hampshire is not immune to this problem, with over 1,000 child marriages taking place in the state between 2000 and 2018.

The Dangers of Child Marriage

Child marriage has devastating consequences for both girls and boys. Married children are more likely to experience:

• Poverty and economic hardship: Child marriage often leads to girls dropping out of school and being financially dependent on their husbands.
• Health problems: Child brides are at greater risk of pregnancy complications, sexually transmitted infections, and other health issues.
• Domestic violence and abuse: Child brides are more likely to experience physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.
• Limited opportunities: Child marriage can limit girls' access to education, employment, and other opportunities for personal growth.

The New Hampshire Child Marriage Bill

In 2022, the New Hampshire legislature passed a bill (HB 1658) that would prohibit marriage for anyone under the age of 18 without judicial approval. The bill would also require parental consent for marriages involving minors between the ages of 16 and 18.

This bill is a significant step towards ending child marriage in New Hampshire. It would bring the state into compliance with federal law, which sets the minimum age of marriage at 18. It would also make it more difficult for adults to marry children, protecting vulnerable young people from abuse and exploitation.

Arguments in Favor of the Bill

There are many strong arguments in favor of the New Hampshire Child Marriage Bill:

• Child marriage is a violation of human rights. Children who are married before they are physically, emotionally, and mentally mature are more likely to experience abuse and exploitation.
• Child marriage harms girls' health and well-being. Married children are more likely to experience pregnancy complications, sexually transmitted infections, and other health problems.
• Child marriage perpetuates poverty and inequality. Child brides are often forced to drop out of school and are less likely to have access to employment and other opportunities for personal growth.
• Child marriage undermines the rule of law. Marrying children without their consent violates both domestic and international law.

Arguments Against the Bill

Some opponents of the New Hampshire Child Marriage Bill argue that it:

• Violates parental rights. They believe that parents should have the right to decide whether or not their children can marry.
• Creates an unnecessary burden on the judicial system. They argue that the bill would require judges to make decisions about the marriages of children, which could be a time-consuming and expensive process.
• Does not address the root causes of child marriage. They argue that the bill does not address the underlying social and economic factors that contribute to child marriage.

Rebutting the Arguments Against the Bill

The arguments against the New Hampshire Child Marriage Bill are not convincing.

Parental rights: While parents have a responsibility to protect and nurture their children, they do not have the right to force them into marriage. Marriage is a serious decision that should be made by adults who are capable of giving informed consent.

Burden on the judicial system: The judicial system is already responsible for protecting children from abuse and exploitation. Adding child marriages to the list of cases that judges must consider would not be an unreasonable burden.

Root causes of child marriage: While it is true that the New Hampshire Child Marriage Bill does not address the root causes of child marriage, it is a necessary step towards ending the practice. By making it more difficult for adults to marry children, the bill will help to protect vulnerable young people from abuse and exploitation.

Conclusion

Child marriage is a serious problem with devastating consequences for children. The New Hampshire Child Marriage Bill is a necessary step towards ending this practice in the state. The bill would prohibit marriage for anyone under the age of 18 without judicial approval and would require parental consent for marriages involving minors between the ages of 16 and 18.

This bill is in the best interests of New Hampshire's children. It would protect them from abuse and exploitation and help them to reach their full potential.

Call to Action

We urge all New Hampshire residents to contact their state representatives and senators and urge them to support the New Hampshire Child Marriage Bill (HB 1658). Together, we can end child marriage in New Hampshire and create a brighter future for all children.

Stories and Lessons Learned

Story 1:

A 16-year-old girl in New Hampshire was forced to marry her 23-year-old cousin. She was taken out of school and forced to work in her husband's family's business. She was also subjected to physical and emotional abuse.

Lesson learned: Child marriage can be a form of human trafficking. Children who are married before they are mature are more likely to be exploited and abused.

Story 2:

An 18-year-old boy in New Hampshire married a 17-year-old girl. The girl became pregnant soon after and dropped out of school to care for the baby. The boy was unable to find a job and the family struggled to make ends meet.

Lesson learned: Child marriage can lead to poverty and economic hardship. Married children are often forced to drop out of school and are less likely to have access to employment and other opportunities for personal growth.

Story 3:

A 15-year-old girl in New Hampshire was married to a 40-year-old man. The man had a history of domestic violence and had been convicted of child molestation. The girl was terrorized by her husband and was afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation.

Lesson learned: Child marriage can be a form of domestic violence. Child brides are more likely to experience physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.

Effective Strategies to End Child Marriage

There are many effective strategies to end child marriage, including:

• Education: Educating girls and their families about the dangers of child marriage is essential. Girls who are aware of their rights are less likely to be married off as children.
• Empowerment: Empowering girls through education and economic opportunities is another essential strategy. Girls who have the skills and knowledge to succeed are less likely to be married off as children.
• Law reform: Passing laws that prohibit child marriage and provide protection for married children is also important. Laws like the New Hampshire Child Marriage Bill (HB 1658) help to protect children from abuse and exploitation.
• Community engagement: Engaging communities in the fight against child marriage is essential. Community members can help to identify and support married children, and they can also challenge the traditional norms that perpetuate child marriage.

Tips and Tricks for Ending Child Marriage

Here are some tips and tricks for ending child marriage:

• Talk to your children about child marriage. Let them know that it is a violation of their rights and that they should never be forced to marry someone they do not want to marry.
• Educate yourself about child marriage. Learn about the signs of child marriage and how to report it.
• Support organizations that are working to end child marriage. There are many organizations that are working to end child marriage around the world. You can support their work by donating money, volunteering your time, or spreading the word about their cause.
• Be a role model. By speaking out against child marriage and by respecting the rights of girls, you can help to create a world where all girls are free to reach their full potential.

Tables

Table 1: Child Marriage in New Hampshire

Table 2: Consequences of Child Marriage

Table 3: Strategies to End Child Marriage