by Luana Pollini, July 13, 2016.

We are accustomed to thinking that some anachronistic and demeaning customs no longer belong to our Western culture. 

We look at the rest of the world, especially at the poor countries,
with a sense of superiority and detachment, boasting about being the
best, and we do not realize that basic rights are often violated also
where we live. Until a few days ago, for example, we believed that the
shameful phenomenon of child brides was just a heritage that belonged
only to nations such as Qatar and Bangladesh, where thousands of women
and girls live under the yoke of their fathers, husbands, and brothers.
Yet, that is not the case.


A few days ago, the State of Virginia (USA) has abolished the
law that allowed the parents of minors to impose (or agree to) shotgun
marriages when the girl is pregnant. The new law came into
force at the beginning of July and set an age limit for the wedding: 18
years as a rule, 16 in cases when the teenager can prove to have legally
emancipated from the family of origin (and with the authorization of
the judge). It fixes a phenomenon that, according to The Independent,
involved about 4,500 youngsters from 2004 to 2013 in Virginia,
including 200 teenagers under 15. A slap in the face of innocence.

Other States adopted the ban – the result of a long struggle
carried forward by activists for human rights – this year: California,
Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. The court will study every
single case, without taking into account factors such as an early
pregnancy or the opinion of the girl’s parents, Washington Post
explains. In fact, the law that was previously in force in Virginia
considered these factors, thus allowing people who sexually abused
minors to “get away with it simply marrying their victims”, according to
the denunciation of the associations. This was the case of a high
school girl raped by her teacher. The latter avoided any kind of
troubles persuading the girl’s parents to allow him to marry her. 

“It
was the second time he resorted to this strategy- stressed Jill Holtzman
Vogel, Republican senator who supported the law together with the
democratic Jennifer McClellan – The first one ended in divorce. Now that
he is married – he added – there is no crime anymore. The girl left
school. He has ruined her life.”


According to statistics, brides are 50% more likely to abandon studies, 25% more likely not to attend college. Besides,
their chance to get pregnant at an early age increases a lot. Besides,
the activists explain, the risk of suffering domestic violence is three
times higher for these girls than for the others. In the US, the law on
marriage varies depending on the State and there are still six States
where young people under the age of 16 are allowed to marry. 

A few
months ago, Coby Persin – a Youtube star – has launched a provocative
campaign against early marriage: Times Square, a 65-year-old man and his
12-year-old “bride” pose for the customary pictures under the eyes of
the incredulous tourists and passers-by. 
“Citizens cannot stand that a
girl marry a man older than her – Persin pointed out – and no one else
should.”

SOURCE: Interris