"The U.S. State Department calls [child marriage] a human rights abuse," our founder/ED @FraidyReiss said. "We understand in today's world that marriage before 18 creates a nightmarish legal trap." #EndChildMarriageOH #18NoExceptions

Between 2007 and 2017, the U.S. government approved thousands of marriage-based visa petitions where one party was a minor. There is still no minimum age to sponsor or receive a spousal or fiancé visa. That is not a typo. Our Director of Policy and Women's Programs, Michele Hanash, breaks down exactly how this loophole works and who it harms. A child in the U.S. can be married to an adult abroad, giving that adult a "child bride" and a pathway to legal immigration status. A foreign child can be trafficked here through a marriage visa and become trapped with no legal recourse. Between 2000 and 2021, nearly 315,000 children were married in the U.S. Some were as young as 10. Child marriage is still legal in 33 states. This loophole makes it worse. Read the full conversation: restoringthewest.com/p/a-con…

OHIO UPDATE: SB341 just passed out of committee unanimously. Every vote: yes. A child marriage ban in Ohio is within reach. Stay tuned. #EndChildMarriage

Yesterday, Ohio's SB341 finally passed out of committee unanimously after our chain-in protest. Every member present voted yes. In this video, AHA Foundation's Director of Policy and Women's Programs, Michele Hanash, speaks about the horrors of child marriage in America. This is a major victory for advocates, survivors, and everyone who has fought to end child marriage in Ohio. SB341 would set 18 as the minimum age for marriage in Ohio with no exceptions, no loopholes, and no judicial workarounds. Child marriage is still legal in 33 states. Between 2000 and 2021, nearly 315,000 children were married in the United States, some as young as 10 years old. Ohio has the chance to change that today. AHA Foundation has been on the frontlines of this fight alongside advocates and survivors across the country. This moment belongs to all of them. Follow us for updates as SB341 moves to the full Senate. #EndChildMarriage #SB341 #Ohio #ChildMarriage #HumanRights

Our advocacy is working. After sustained pressure from advocates and survivors across the country, Ohio's child marriage ban legislation has been scheduled for a Senate Judiciary Committee vote this Wednesday, a major step toward protecting minors from child marriage. Last week, we joined @UnchainedAtLast, fellow advocates and survivors at the Ohio Capitol, where our Director of Policy demanded "Today we are asking Ohio lawmakers to do something simple. No loopholes. No exceptions. No excuses. Pass SB 341 and set the marriage age at 18, period." Lawmakers listened. We'll keep fighting until every child is protected. local12.com/news/local/ohio-…

A recap of my child marriage bill story from this week - Ohio Senate Judiciary committee votes on it today @local12 @UnchainedAtLast

Effort to ban child marriage in Ohio moves forward following pressure, protests @local12 local12.com/news/local/ohio-…