The International Center for Research on Women launched an campaign this week to encourage US-legislators to support bills which provide funding for programs which work to curb child marriage. Recent research has shown that child marriage hinders the effectiveness of US-aid and development programs around child and maternal health. This has led two Congress members to propose bills in the House and Senate. Both bills, however, still lack the number of sponsors necessary to be taken under consideration by the appropriate committees.
For this reason, the International Center for Research on Women is asking constituents to contact their representatives. Both Congress bills would target funding for programs which work to end child marriage in countries where the US provides aid. In total, the bills would allocate $160 million in resources over a four year time period.
Compiled from: "U.N., Lawmakers urged to curb forced marriage," Jill Hindenach, Women's Enews, www.womenenews.org, 25 February 2008.