Child Trafficking

Child marriage, child brides, mail order brides, and arrange marriages are all facets of Human Trafficking. Child marriage are marriages of both parties are under 18, a child bride where one (usually the female) is under 18, mail order brides are females are purchased online, and arrange marriages, are marriages arranged by families (usually parents)  (Meshelemiah). Child Marriages or Child Brides throughout the world, including the United States, “cross cultural, regional, and religious” aspirations (Meshelemiah). Child marriage/brides are linked to pornography via videos promoting underage girls with older age men. Promoting sexual relations or events with females under 18.

International Women’s Health stated that the worldwide trend estimates 140 million girls will become child brides. An estimated 12% of these girls are under age 15. The results of Human Trafficking (referring to child marriage/brides) include poor and war-stricken countries. Between 2010 and 2015, the United States experienced about 2000,000 children (under 18) married, with about 86% married to adults. Girls Not Brides report, globally, 12 million girls (1 in 5) marry before 18 every year.

These females face the risk of sexual violence, sexual assaults, physical abuse, HIV, and pregnancy complications (Meshelemiah). Their age, they have little to no opinion on family planning, yet are required to provide fertility. These females (usually between 15 and 25 in age) are forced into submission and forced to be “sexually available, not only to their husbands, but to any males” within their families (Meshelemiah).

Human Trafficking also includes Mail Order Brides. Many mail order brides are women forced into marriages they may or may not desire.  They include women being forced into marriages, sometimes stuck in a relationship that is not what they expected, in a country where they do not know the language or customs, and where they do not have the money to return to their home country (Meshelemiah). Due to poverty and other financial issues, and women who find themselves as “undesirable” brokers are “selling people for profit” online (Meshelemiah). Broker websites are used by Traffickers (Pimps) for the buying and selling of girls.