A New California Law Bans Child Marriage. Where Does the Rest of the World Stand?

On September 30, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law that bans marriage for anyone under 18 years old. The law, called Bill AB 1267, has no exceptions — meaning no one under 18 can marry in California, even with a parent's permission or a judge's approval. California is now the 18th state in the U.S. to fully ban child marriage. Supporters say it is a big step forward in protecting young people.

Before this law, California allowed minors to marry if their parents agreed and a judge gave permission. Because of that old system, California had no set minimum age for marriage at all. The new law also stops minors from entering domestic partnerships. Advocates had worked for nearly ten years to pass a law like this.

The signing included survivor Courtney Stodden, who was 16 when her parents allowed her to marry a 50-year-old actor. She has since spoken out against child marriage. Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, who wrote the bill, said survivors were at the heart of the effort. 'They told us what it means to be a child in a marriage you did not freely choose,' she said.

Child marriage is a global issue. The United Nations calls it a 'human rights violation' because it can lead to early pregnancy, dropping out of school, and a higher risk of domestic violence. Despite this, the U.N. estimates that 12 million girls become child brides every year around the world. The U.N. has set a goal of ending child marriage by 2030.

In the United States, lawmakers are debating a national law called the Child Marriage Prevention Act. Data shows that more than 314,000 minors were legally married in the U.S. between 2000 and 2021, including girls as young as 10. Most were married to adult men. Advocates say a national law is needed to protect all children, not just those in states that have already passed bans.

Not everyone agrees the proposed federal bill is strong enough. Critic Fraidy Reiss said one section would give money to states to study child marriage instead of banning it. Another section could allow some minors as young as 16 to get a U.S. spousal visa, which she warned could be misused. She called for both sections to be changed before the bill becomes law.

Other countries have moved quickly to ban child marriage. Sierra Leone, Colombia, and Bolivia have all passed strong laws in recent years setting 18 as the minimum marriage age with no exceptions. However, experts warn that laws alone are not always enough. In India, child marriage is illegal, but cultural traditions mean it still happens to millions of girls each year.

Experts say changing laws is an important first step, but attitudes must change too. Parents, community leaders, and religious figures need to stop seeing early marriage as normal or protective. 'This requires belief and behavior change, services, support, thoughtful conversations on the community level,' said policy expert Casey Carter Swegman. With more countries acting and survivors speaking out, advocates hope to end child marriage by 2030.