Oklahoma just became the 17th state where we have helped to ban child marriage! Gov. Kevin Stitt declined to sign or veto the bill the legislature sent him to make the marriage age 18, no exceptions -- so it passed into law without him.
Until now the marriage age in Oklahoma has been ZERO, and some 3,452 minors were entered into marriage in the Sooner State between 2000 and 2021, mostly girls wed to adult men. And the suffering of these girls is profound: Oklahoma's marriage-age laws have created a workaround for statutory rape laws and for human trafficking laws.
Besides, marriage before age 18 is recognized as a human rights abuse and as a particularly egregious form of forced marriage, which is a form of modern slavery.
So the law that just passed, which will go into effect in November, is a huge win for the nearly 490,000 girls in Oklahoma. But 33 other states -- home to some 26 million girls -- still allow child marriage. Let's join forces to change that! Link in bio.
#EndChildMarriageOK #EndChildMarriage #EndChildMarriageUSA #18NoExceptions #17Down33ToGo
We're hiring a Social Worker to support women, girls and others as they avoid, escape from and rebuild their lives after forced marriage.
You might be a good fit for this position if you:
Hold a Master of Social Work degree;
Have at least five years of professional experience providing services to trauma survivors;
Are endlessly compassionate, patient and nonjudgmental, but also a bit of a badass;
Are ridiculously organized; and
Feel passionately about our mission.
Learn more and apply at the link in our bio.
If you or someone you know is in or escaping a forced marriage, we can help. Get help at the link in our bio.
If you need immediate assistance, call 911, 988 or any of the hotlines listed below:
National Human Trafficking Hotline (operated by @polarisproject ): 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733
Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (@rainn ) Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (@988lifeline ): Call or text 988
National Domestic Violence Hotline (@ndvhofficial ): 1-800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788
Colorado Senate: Just Say No to the House's Amended Child Marriage Bill.
“We would much, much, much rather see nothing pass than see a ridiculous, pathetic, half-assed measure that protects 3 percent of those impacted by child marriage and, in fact, encourages men in their mid- to late-20s to prey on high school girls,” Unchained At Last Founder Fraidy Reiss says. “That is not a step in the right direction. That’s a slap in the face to the girls of Colorado.”
Read the full piece in @denverwestword :
/news/proposed-child-marriage-ban-adds-exemption-for-age-gaps-of-up-to-ten-years-40882697/
@GovofCO
18 no exceptions — or kill the bill. Colorado girls cannot wait.
WTF, Colorado. The organizations opposing a full child marriage ban are the same types of groups whose colleagues in other states support or are neutral on this exact ban.
They should be standing up for girls. Instead, they're in the way.
The bill is still alive. The fight isn't over.
@GovofCO : 18 no exceptions — or kill the bill.
#EndChildMarriageCO
The Colorado House recently passed the amended child marriage bill.
But the fight isn’t over. It goes back to the Senate — where sponsors will urge colleagues to reject the House amendments and hold firm on the real ban.
Contact your state Senator NOW.
Tell them: “Adhere to the Senate version of SB26-048.”
#EndChildMarriageCO @GovofCO
Oh, what a beautiful mornin’ (afternoon?). The Oklahoma house of representatives last night passed a bill to ban child marriage in the Sooner State (by a 51-36 vote)!
The senate already unanimously approved the bill, so now it goes to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk. If he signs it, Oklahoma will become the 17th U.S. state where we have helped to ban child marriage, a human rights abuse that destroys girls’ lives. #EndChildMarriage #EndChildMarriageOK #18NoExceptions #16Down34ToGo #Oklahoma
WTF, Colorado.
The legislature advanced the amended child marriage bill. The full House vote is likely today.
Here is what we are asking you to do right now:
📞 Call Gov. Polis: (303) 866-2471
💬 Comment on his most recent post: “Please demand a real child marriage ban. 18 no exceptions.”
📲 Share this post. Today.
The amendment still lets a 25-year-old legally marry a 16-year-old. Still protects just 3% of child brides. Still isn’t a ban.
@govofco | RepLorenaGarciaHD35 | @junie4colorado : Colorado is watching.
18 no exceptions — or kill the bill.
#EndChildMarriageCO
Thank you to @blairimani for the video and for calling out the Colorado legislature for this so-called "fix" to child marriage!
WTF, Colorado. The amended child marriage bill is advancing. The full House likely votes today.
This amendment still lets a 25-year-old legally marry a 16-year-old. Still protects 3% of child brides. Still hasn't been read by everyone who voted on it.
Watch. Share. Call.
@GovofCO | @RepLorenaGarcia | @Junie4Colorado — the clock is ticking.
📞 (303) 866-2471
18 no exceptions — or kill the bill.
#EndChildMarriageCO
🚨 BREAKING.
The amended Colorado child marriage is advancing. It is before the full House floor now for a vote.
This is the moment we've been waiting for. And it is happening NOW.
The amendment still:
→ Protects just 3% of child brides
→ Allows a 25-year-old to legally marry a 16-year-old
→ Ignores trafficking, the legal trap and automatic emancipation
All partners: we need you today. Post, repost, share our Stories, make the call.
📞 (303) 866-2471 — Gov. Polis's office
@GovofCO | @RepLorenaGarcia | @Junie4Colorado
18 no exceptions — or kill the bill.
#EndChildMarriageCO
child marriage is still legal in colorado
they already passed a full ban
18 no exceptions
and now they’re trying to walk it back
this amendment protects 3% of child brides
97% are still left exactly where they are
that’s not protection
that’s permission
@jaredpolis this is on you
history will remember what you do next
@jaredpolis@unchainedatlast@equalitynoworg@unicefusa@plannedparenthood@aclu_nationwide@cnn@tmz_tv@dailymail@people
#endchildmarriage
#protectchildren
#humanrights
#coloradopolitics
#womensrights
they’re still debating this while kids are still being put into situations they can’t consent to
i lived it
i survived it
i’m still dealing with it
18. no exceptions
if you’re in power… do your job
@GovofCO@RepLorenaGarcia@Junie4Colorado@coloradohousegop@colegdems@jaredpolis
#EndChildMarriage #18NoExceptions #ProtectChildren #ChildMarriageIsAbuse
