Is child marriage legal? Why the law must protect children
People often ask whether child marriage is legal. The answer depends on the country, and sometimes on loopholes in its laws. But the harm to a girl does not change with the law.
What the law should do
A clear minimum age of marriage of eighteen, for girls and boys alike, protects children before anyone can decide their future for them. A law works when it has no exceptions that allow a child to be married through a guardian or a court.
Why eighteen matters
Before eighteen, a girl is still a child. Marriage takes her out of school, exposes her to the risks of early pregnancy and leaves her with little power over her own life.
What we do
Nada Foundation works to end child marriage in Yemen. We support girls at risk, help families find other choices, and call for a law that sets eighteen as the minimum age of marriage.
No child should be a bride, whatever the law allows.