On Human Rights Day, Take Action To Prevent Child Marriage

December 10 marks Human Rights Day, an event that is celebrated annually across the world. The date was chosen to mark the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948.

At Care2, we invite you to mark this important day by taking action for human rights.

End Child Marriage

Child marriage is clearly a human rights violation. Yet tragically, in developing countries thousands of girls age 17 and younger - sometimes as young as 10 - are still forced to marry men twice their age or older.

Not only does this unacceptable practice thwart a girl's education, it endangers her health and often locks her into a life of poverty. Girls under 15 are five times as likely to die during pregnancy than women in their 20s.

Senate Passed The Bill - Now On To The House

On December 1, the Senate passed the International Protecting Girls By Preventing Child Marriage Act. This legislation will ensure that child marriage is recognized as a human rights violation, develop a comprehensive strategy to prevent child marriage and empower young girls, and work to combat child marriage by educating communities and providing alternatives.

That was an important step forward, but now the U.S. House of Representatives needs to act too. Please urge the House of Representatives to pass this important bill quickly, before Congress adjourns for the end of the year.

Take Action!


(2010-12-10/care2.com)