Citation

Kopelman LM. J. Law Med. Ethics 2016; 44(1): 173-181.

Affiliation

Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University and Professor Emeritus Department of Bioethics and Interdisciplinary Studies at Brody School of Medicine.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1177/1073110516644208

PMID

27256133

Abstract

The forced marriage of minors is child abuse, consequently duties exist to stop them. Yet over 14 million forced marriages of minors occur annually in developing countries. The American Bar Association (ABA) concludes that the problem in the US is significant, widespread but largely ignored, and that few US laws protect minors from forced marriages. Although their best chance of rescue often involves visits to health care providers, US providers show little awareness of this growing problem. Strategies discussed to stop forced marriages include recommendations from the UN, the ABA, and the UK. The author anticipates and responds to criticisms that first, no duty to intervene exists without better laws and practice guidelines; and second, that such marriages are not child abuse in traditions where parental rights or familism allegedly justify them.

© 2016 American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics.

Language: en