A Historic Win: D.C. Officially Bans Child Marriage

By: Michele Hanash, Director of Policy and Women’s Programs at AHA Foundation

Published: 3/27/2025

With your support, we achieved another milestone in protecting vulnerable children.

We are proud to share a significant milestone in the fight to protect vulnerable children in the United States. On March 21, Washington D.C.’s landmark bill to end child marriage officially went into effect.

This marks another victory in our relentless efforts to safeguard children from the devastating impacts of child marriage. Previously, a parent or guardian could enter a 16- or 17-year-old into marriage with nothing more than a signature. This dangerous loophole has been eliminated, and now, the marriage age is 18—no exceptions.

AHA Foundation played a pivotal role in this achievement. From collaborating with allies and meeting in person with legislators to providing testimony and championing the bill’s passage, we have worked tirelessly to turn this vision into reality. We extend our deepest gratitude to Councilmember Brooke Pinto, who sponsored this bill and led it through the D.C. Council and Mayor Bowser for signing this critical legislation.

Above all, this victory belongs to the courageous survivors and steadfast supporters of AHA Foundation whose voices and dedication have propelled these efforts forward. Your unwavering advocacy and commitment have brought us to this historic moment.

With this ban, Washington D.C. joins 13 states and two U.S. territories that have already ended child marriage. Our work is far from over—we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure that every state enacts laws to protect children from this harmful practice.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we are making a profound difference.

AHA’s Advocacy in Action: Driving Change in D.C.