Bolivia Says No to Child Marriage

September 19, 2025

AHA Foundation applauds Bolivia’s historic passage of legislation raising the minimum age of marriage to 18 without exceptions. This reform is a victory for the girls of Bolivia and a powerful example for the rest of the world: child marriage is not a tradition to preserve, but a harmful practice to end.

In the United States, however, child marriage remains legal in 34 states, where loopholes still allow children under 18 to be married—often to adults. Child marriage is easily forced, strips children of their rights, and exposes them to lifelong harm. It is a human rights abuse, no matter where it occurs.

We celebrate Bolivia’s commitment to protecting girls and call on U.S. lawmakers to follow this example. We will not stop until child marriage is ended in every state across our nation.