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Missouri poised to ban child marriage with bipartisan support | KCUR


Bipartisan Legislation Seeks to End Child Marriage in Missouri

Bipartisan legislation introduced in the state Senate aims to eliminate child marriage in Missouri by raising the minimum age for marriage to 18 in all circumstances. The bills, introduced by Democratic Sen. Tracy McCreery and Republican Sen. Rick Brattin, come after a 2018 law only raised the minimum age for marriage to 16 and prohibited anyone over 21 from marrying a minor.

Supporters of the legislation argue that child marriage is tantamount to legalizing child rape, as it puts teenage girls at greater risk of abuse, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and poverty. Several women who were married as teens shared their stories in support of the bill, highlighting the lack of legal rights married teenagers have when it comes to divorce, restraining orders, or accessing resources in cases of abuse.

Former Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder, who married at 15 to escape an abusive home life, also voiced her support for the bill. She emphasized that despite being considered an adult at 15, she was still a child and did not have the necessary rights to protect herself.

The legislation, Senate Bill 66, had an initial hearing before the Senate Families, Seniors, and Health Committee. While identical legislation passed the Senate last year but died in the House, supporters remain hopeful that the current bills will gain traction and bring an end to child marriage in Missouri.

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