Home / Crime and Justice / California Bans Child Marriage: A Survivor's Victory
California Bans Child Marriage: A Survivor's Victory
1 Oct
Summary
- California has banned child marriage, effective January 1, 2027.
- Previously, California had no legal age for marriage with parental consent.
- This change is hailed as a significant victory for child marriage survivors.
California is set to ban child marriage starting January 1, 2027, marking a significant victory for advocates and survivors of the practice. This new legislation eradicates the previous system where minors could marry with parental and judicial consent, and crucially, lacked a mechanism for divorce.
Advocacy groups, including Unchained At Last, report that approximately 9,000 girls in California were wed annually, with most unions involving underage girls and adult men. Survivors like Brittany Bee and Sara Tasneen have bravely shared their personal stories of being forced into marriage at a young age, enduring abuse, and feeling trapped.
Tasneen, who began lobbying in 2017, expressed her gratitude that the state now recognizes child marriage should be banned, calling the bill's passage a "marathon." Bee stated that California's action sends a message of hope to children worldwide, empowering them to choose their own paths free from systemic violence.
