A group of individuals wearing bridal gowns and veils congregated at the Capitol in Olympia on Thursday. Their purpose was not to exchange vows, but rather to raise awareness about the issue of child marriage in Washington state.
Around 20 protesters stood united, with their arms chained and mouths taped shut, urging the Senate to pass House Bill 1455. This bill aims to establish a minimum marriage age of 18.
On January 8th, at the start of the legislative session, the House unanimously approved HB 1455, which is now awaiting action in the Senate.
While previous efforts to put an end to child marriage have been made, this particular bill was initially introduced by Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, last year. Although it successfully passed the House, it ultimately faced a setback in the Senate.
According to an analysis by Unchained At Last and 11 research partners, over 5,000 minors have been married in Washington state since 2000.
It is worth noting that with parental consent, a 17-year-old can get married, while younger individuals require approval from a judge. Advocates highlight the existing loopholes in the law, which prevent these children from seeking a divorce until they turn 18.
Sara Tasneem, along with other survivors and advocates, shared her harrowing experience of being coerced into marriage at the tender age of 15. Tasneem, now 43, expressed her frustration over the loss of her reproductive rights, education, and freedom on her wedding day. She lamented the lack of autonomy and control she had over her own life.
In Washington, individuals who are 18 years old are able to utilize support systems that may not be available to minors. One such example is domestic violence shelters, which may unfortunately turn away those who are under the age of 18.
“As someone who has survived child marriage, I want to raise awareness among the American people about the reality of child marriage in our country,” Yang emphasized. She shared her own experience, revealing that she was only 15 years old when she gave birth to her first son. Yang made it clear that child marriage is not just a distant issue, but one that exists right here in Washington state.”
A study conducted in 2020 by the International Center for Research on Women found that a staggering 90% of women who are married as children endure various forms of abuse, including physical, sexual, and emotional, from their husbands throughout their marriage.
Unchained At Last, a national organization, has been working tirelessly for three years to put an end to child and forced marriages in Washington state. Joining forces with women’s rights advocacy groups Zonta International and the AHA Foundation, they organized a powerful protest to raise awareness and demand change.
“We must put an end to this violation of human rights,” expressed Fraidy Reiss, the visionary behind Unchained At Last. “What better way to compel lawmakers to take meaningful steps than to provide them with a firsthand glimpse into the lives of individuals trapped in forced marriages?”
Washington is among the 43 states that permit children to enter into marriage. Surprisingly, it does not establish a minimum age requirement for marriage, as reported by Unchained At Last. In Washington state, a 2016 analysis conducted by the Pew Research Centers revealed that the rate of marriage among children aged 15 to 17 was 4.3 per 1,000, which is slightly lower than the national average of 4.6.
According to the International Center for Research on Women, national statistics reveal that over 80% of these marriages ultimately result in divorce.
According to Su Trina Martindale, a member of the Zonta International chapter in Everett, the traumatic experiences that these girls endure have lasting impacts that extend into their adult lives.
Tasneem has successfully raised two sons, who are now grown adults. Besides her work in local government, she also dedicates her time to advocating for children.
Tasneem expressed her deep commitment to serving the public, emphasizing the significance of ensuring that our laws and systems are designed to benefit and work effectively for the people.
