New York is the latest state Unchained at Last has convinced to change its minor marriage laws.
"Children were able to be married off in New York by a judge … before the minors are old enough to have the basic legal rights that they need to prevent themselves from being forced into a marriage or forced [to stay] in a marriage," founder Fraidy Reiss tells One News Now about why The Empire State has been on Unchained at Last's lists.
New York legislators passed a bill in 2017 that made 17 the youngest a person could be to get married.
"Previously, children as young as 14 could marry," Reiss continues. "I think a lot of legislators left since the 2017 thing thinking, 'Oh, great -- we just fixed the problem,' and we had to point out to them that at age 17, a minor faces all the same handicaps that a 14-year-old faces."
So earlier this month, the legislature passed a bill establishing the minimum age for marriage at 18, which is the age at which a person legally becomes an adult. Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) has yet to sign the bill into law.
Five states have passed such laws so far.
