November 26, 2024
City Council
DATE: November 26, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Councilmember Soheila Bana
Subject:
To advocate for State legislation that enforces a minimum marriage age of 18 years old with no exceptions
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There are no direct financial impacts associated with the adoption of this resolution.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
To end child marriage by advocating for the creation of legislation by the State of California that enforces a minimum marriage age of 18 with no exceptions.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution affirming the City of Richmond's
commitment to ending child marriage by advocating for the California State Legislature to enact legislation that enforces a minimum marriage age of 18 with no
exceptions. Councilmember Soheila Bana (510 -620-
6743).
DISCUSSION:
The City of Richmond prides itself on upholding the rights and well-being of all individuals, especially minors who are most vulnerable to the impacts of child marriage. Despite AGENDA
REPORT
November 26, 2024
various states enacting laws to combat this issue, California currently lacks comprehensive legislation that addresses this harmful practice. The resolution before the Council calls upon the California State Legislature to pass an "End Child Marriage Under 18, No Exceptions" law. This aligns with our City's values and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to eliminate harmful practices like child marriage.
Child marriage, defined as a legal marriage or informal union where one or bot h of the parties are under 18 years of age, is recognized globally as a violation of human rights.
In the United States, child marriage has been identified as a significant issue, with over 300,000 minors married between 2000 and 2018. These marriages ofte n result in detrimental outcomes for minors, including limitations on educational and economic opportunities, higher rates of violence, and adverse health consequences.
Community interest in this resolution is anticipated to be high due to the moral and social implications of child marriage. Outreach will involve informing the community of the City Council's stance on this issue and the proposed advocacy for legislative change.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution