Forced marriage and honor violence are often viewed in the West as backward customs relegated to impoverished developing nations. But a spate of gruesome honor killings in the U.K., and new research about the prevalence of underage marriage in the U.S., for the first time show that this kind of violence against women is far more widespread.

Forced marriage is a serious problem in the United States today, with as many as 3,000 known and suspected cases identified in just two years by respondents of Tahirih Justice Center survey. The fact that potentially thousands of young women and girls from immigrant communities may face forced marriages each year in the United States is alarming and demands attention.

Rather spoke with Miller-Muro about the hidden problem of forced marriage in the U.S.

The United States has just begun to take notice of the problem of forced marriage domestically; however, there is very little shared understanding among non-profits and government agencies of the problem’s full dimensions, nor any coordinated effort to envision strategies and solutions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 9, 2025 CONTACT: Lynn Tramonte ([email protected] / 202-255-0551) On May 10, Texas House to Vote on Child Marriage Ban Tahirih Justice Center calls on Texas legislature […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 25, 2025 CONTACT: Lynn Tramonte ([email protected] / 202-255-0551) Washington, DC Joined 13 States to Ban Child Marriage WASHINGTON – Child marriage is child abuse. And it […]

WASHINGTON – With Mayor Bowser’s signature, the Child Marriage Prohibition Amendment Act is on it’s way to Congress for final consideration after having passed City Council unanimously on December 17. […]