U.S. Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Democrat from the state of Minnesota, has introduced legislation to protect girls in developing countries from child marriages. She believes this is a human rights issue that should be part of U.S. foreign policy.

Congresswoman McCollum recently sat down with Julie Vahdati, host of A Woman’s World, to talk about the practice of child marriage and the efforts underway to stop this harmful practice.

“The whole idea of child marriage, young girls, ages 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, being forced into marriage, which means that they’ll be forced into sexual activity before their bodies are ready to handle it -- it's forcible rape,” she said. “So the mental, emotional, and physical toll it takes on these young girls is just something that speaks out to a human rights issue.”

Congresswoman McCollum says her bill on child marriage has strong bipartisan support. The bill calls for the U.S. to help replicate community-based programs that are successful in preventing child marriage, and support local advocacy work to ensure that governments are meeting their obligations to prevent child marriage and forced marriage. The bill would also provide support for community-based activities that encourage community members to address beliefs or practices that promote child marriage.

For more information about U.S. Congresswoman Betty McCollum and the legislation she has introduced on child marriage, visit her website:
www.mccollum.house.gov