… not a topic usually associated with the United States of America. And yet it affects tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of minors, especially girls.
A national alliance of non-governmental organizations sees the reason primarily in lax legislation. The NGOs persuade politicians and organize workshops for social services, the police and the judiciary. Their strongest weapon, however, is the courageous women who have themselves been victims of child and/or forced marriage: They are now telling their story to shake up politicians and the public so that the marriage age is set at 18 without exception. My radio feature on Austrian Radio Ö1/ORF.