End child marriage in New York
New York State's legislators and governor should back a proposed law to help end child marriage in New York. Human Rights Watch made this call in a letter to New York lawmakers.
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From 2001 to 2010, 3,850 children under the age of 18 married in New York State.
What the law allows
Child marriage is any marriage of a person under the age of 18. Under current law, the minimum age of marriage in New York is 18. But the law allows exceptions. Children aged 16 and 17 may marry with their parents' approval. Children aged 14 and 15 may marry if they have permission from a judge as well as from their parents.
The vast majority of US states allow marriage before the age of 18 in some circumstances.