Hellitz Villegas, the Forced Marriage Initiative Program Manager at the Tahirih Justice Center, wrote this op-ed in support of Virginia bill HB 994 ending child marriage in Virginia by setting the minimum marriage age to 18, with no exceptions.
Tahirih in the News
Virginia Could Become a Leader in the Movement to End Child Marriage – Again
Survivor Voices
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Anastasia
I came to the U.S. in the winter of 2006. Life back home in Mexico was tough for me and my family. I dreamt of going to college and graduating but with my family’s economic status, that dream was too costly and impossible.
At least I was able to graduate high school and that is something I am proud of since I was also working at the time to help my family. I was always looking for an opportunity to have a better life as a young woman.June 23, 2023 -
Camila
“I hope my story is helpful to someone else…and can inspire many women to be stronger. We need to help young women identify toxic relationships, so that there are fewer Camilas that go through such difficult things, let alone have our children suffer.”
November 21, 2022
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