Lawmakers Approve Bill To Ban Child Marriage In Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, RI — A bill fully banning underage marriages in Rhode Island is headed to Gov. Dan McKee's desk. The bill amends state law to remove all language allowing marriage under the age of 18 with parental consent.

Rep. Julie Casimiro, the House sponsor, said that underage marriages "destroy girls’ health, education and economic opportunities and increases their risk of violence."

"These young girls risk a 70 to 80 percent chance of divorce and they are more likely to end up in poverty than teen moms who remain single," she continued. "These marriages can be used to cover up an unwanted pregnancy or cover for abuse. Sometimes abusive parents use these marriages for financial gain. Sometimes these marriages are used for sex trafficking purposes."

The United Nations has identified the elimination of child marriage as a priority, Casimiro added, saying that Rhode Island would become just the fifth state in the nation to so should the bill be signed into law.

Under the legislation, only people aged 18 or older would be able to obtain a marriage license in Rhode Island. Unlike their adult counterparts, married minors do not have the same legal protections, including fewer resources for victims of domestic violence and the inability to petition for divorce.

According to Sen. John Burke, the Senate sponsor, 32 minors — most of whom were girls — were married in Rhode Island from 2013 to 2019. One was just 14 years old.

"While child marriage is rare in Rhode Island, it does happen," Burke said. "Most often, child marriage is forced marriage, with minors being compelled to marry by their parents. It’s time for the state to put an end to this outrageous practice."

The bill was championed by several child welfare organizations in Rhode Island, including Kids Count RI, The Office of the Child Advocate and UNICEF.

"I join advocates and survivors across Rhode Island and beyond in applauding the legislature for moving quickly to pass this legislation, which harms no one, costs nothing and ends a human rights abuse," said Fraidy Reiss, executive director of Unchained At Last.