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Whatever happened to the U.S. campaign to ban child marriage?

Sep 4, 2026 · Kamala Thiagarajan

Originally published by NPR News Read the original

Whatever happened to the U.S. campaign to ban child marriage?
Advocates and child marriage survivors in Boston gather to call for an end to child marriage. Currently more than two dozen U.S. states allow for marriage under the age of 18 under certain circumstances. A new bill up for debate in Congress calls for a national ban.
Advocates and child marriage survivors in Boston gather to call for an end to child marriage. Currently more than two dozen U.S. states allow for marriage under the age of 18 under certain circumstances. A new bill up for debate in Congress calls for a national ban.

The global effort to end child marriage is in the news. In the U.S., there's a new bill before Congress (but it's controversial). And the U.N. is designating a day dedicated to ending the practice.

(Image credit: Joseph Prezioso/AFP)

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