International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2010

Floor Speech

* Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 987, the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act. I'd like to thank Congresswoman McCollum and Senator Durbin for introducing this legislation and for their longstanding leadership on this issue.

* Child marriage is a true tragedy, as well as a serious human rights violation. Sixty million girls worldwide, some as young as eight years old, have been forced into early marriage. Child brides have little, if any, control over their lives, their bodies, and their futures. Not only do girls forced into early marriage lose the opportunity to attend school and develop as children, they also face serious health consequences and substantially higher rates of domestic violence.

* Girls who are married at a young age are also typically forced into early sexual activity, but their bodies are not physically suited for giving birth. According to the International Center for Research on Women, pregnancy is the leading cause of death worldwide for girls aged 15-19.

* Child marriage is often linked to a lack of education, opportunity, and resources. Girls from poor households are far more likely to be given away as child brides; some families view it as a way to guarantee their daughters' future, while others see girls as an economic liability. Either way, studies have shown that girls who are married before 18 are more likely to remain poor and less likely to receive education.

* We need to do much more to prevent child marriage. I am an original cosponsor of the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act, which makes preventing child marriage an international priority for the U.S. Government. This legislation requires the State Department, as part of their annual Country Reports on Human Rights, to report on countries with high rates of child marriage in their annual, and the White House to create an action plan on combating child marriage.

* Mr. Speaker, by passing this legislation, we take an important step toward ending child marriage around the world, and ensuring that all girls have the opportunity to learn and grow as children. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Source