Activists Push To Ban Marriage Before Age 18 In New Jersey
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Tying the knot before 18 could become illegal in New Jersey.
In the Garden State, marriage before 18 is possible with parental permission. Parents consent to such unions for many reasons, including religious, cultural and financial.
But activists argue young girls are at risk of exploitation, and that being forced into an arranged marriage can lead to a life of abuse, poverty and subservience.
"The effects of child marriage on a girl's life are devastating enough that the U.S. State Department considers marriage before 18 to be a human rights abuse," Fraidy Reiss told WCBS 880's Sean Adams. "Child marriage undermines a girl's education, it makes her more likely to be drop out of high school, much less likely to finish college. Child marriage undermines a girl's economic opportunities, it makes her more likely to earn low wages and live in poverty."
Reiss herself escaped an abusive arranged marriage and founded the nonprofit Unchained at Last to help other young women escape unwanted to unions.
Activists point out there's a blatant contradiction of girls being allowed to marry before they are even old enough to obtain a lawyer and file for divorce, Adams reported.
Supporters said they want to protect children, mainly young girls who are forced into arranged marriages with older men, who sometimes are abusive and domineering.
"It increases her risk of experiencing violence and it means that she probably now will live with her abuser and be subjected to this abuse around the clock," Reiss said.
A bill setting the legal marriage age at 18 passed the state Assembly 62-0 last month.
It must be approved by the Senate before it can go to Gov. Chris Christie.