Activists and survivors are pushing to completely bar child marriages in Virginia, where exceptions still allow them.
In 2016, the commonwealth became the first state to limit marriage to those who are legal adults, but through a complicated judicial process, some 16- and 17-year-olds could still win permission to marry. In 2018, 23 minors got married. Since 2019, another 27 have wed.
Now a bill is being considered to remove any exception, which 10 other states have already done. The Northern Virginia-based Tahirih Justice Center has been working nationwide to end marriage before age 18.
“One child married is too many,” Tahirih Justice Center Director of Public Policy Casey Swegman said. “Forced or not, it sets people up for devastating short- and long-term consequences, and in fact, delaying marriage to 18 or beyond will set all people up to be better off.”
At a recent hearing in Richmond, a representative for faith-based nonprofit Family Foundation urged lawmakers to stick with current law.
“There are good reasons for people to get married under this very reasonable exception,” Family Foundation legislative counsel Josh Hetzler said.
Hellbound and Down 