Map Shows Where Child Marriage Is Lawful After OK Ban Becomes Law
Summary
Oklahoma became the 17th U.S. state to ban child marriage by raising the minimum marriage age to 18 with no exceptions. The new law will take effect on November 1, joining other states that have ended child marriage to protect minors, especially girls, from abuse and exploitation.Key Facts
- Oklahoma’s law, signed by Governor Kevin Stitt, makes 18 the minimum marriage age with no exceptions starting November 1.
- Before this, minors could marry with parental or court approval, including children 16 or younger.
- Child marriage is still legal in 33 states, some with no minimum age.
- Since 2000, about 315,000 children as young as 10 have been married in the U.S., mostly girls to adult men.
- 17 states have banned child marriage by raising the marriage age to 18; examples include Maine, Oregon, and Missouri.
- Child marriage is considered a human rights violation by the United Nations because minors cannot give full consent.
- Advocates warn that minors may be taken across state lines for marriage where laws are less strict.
- Other states like Arizona, Ohio, and North Carolina are currently considering laws to ban child marriage.
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