Thursday, the House of Representatives passed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (S.47). This was not only a victory for women, but also girls around the world. The act included language requiring U.S. leaders to develop a strategy to prevent child marriage in developing countries.

“For years, I have been working to protect young girls, even pre-teen girls, in poor countries from being forced to marry, forced into sex, and forced into lives of poverty,” said Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN). “Today, with the passage of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, the United States will make protecting girls and preventing child marriage a foreign policy priority.  Keeping girls and women safe from violence and abuse here at home and around the world will always be a priority for me.”

We have partnered with Girls Not Brides to help spread awareness about child marriage, an issue that our Girl Up campaign has rallied around. Special thanks to Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) for their tireless effort in giving young girls a chance at a better life.