In a child marriage, one or both parties are under age 18 when they enter the union. Child marriage can easily be forced, because children have limited legal rights and therefore face overwhelming legal and practical barriers if they try to escape or resist an unwanted marriage. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights categorizes all child marriage as forced marriage.
Resources
About Child Marriage in the U.S. (Unchained at Last) Child Marriage in the United States: Prevalence and Implications (Journal of Adolescent Health)Infographics
