Do you know any lawyers who want to help women and girls in the U.S. to escape forced marriages?
Unchained again is offering its popular training course on family law with a focus on forced marriage, in partnership with Rutgers Institute for Professional Education. The course is worth valuable Continuing Legal Education credits in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania — and the $150 course fee is waived for admitted attorneys who commit to representing an Unchained client pro bono as she flees a forced marriage.
Date: Friday, November 10
Time: 9a to 4:45p (free breakfast and lunch included)
Location: Rutgers Law School – Newark
*Deadline to register: Tuesday, October 31
NJ: 8.1 credits (including 1.2 ethics)
NY: 8.0 credits (including 1.0 ethics)
PA: 6.5 credits (including 1.0 ethics)
The CLE course provides an overview of New Jersey matrimonial law, covering the major steps of the divorce process — from filing the complaint to addressing issues of equitable distribution, child custody, child support and alimony. The course focuses on forced marriage and the legal and ethical issues involved.
Instructors:
Attorneys who join Unchained’s pro bono team receive:
Attorneys with 5+ years of matrimonial law experience also can take advantage of these opportunities:
Girls and women across the U.S. are being pressured, tricked, threatened or beaten into marriage, and then trapped. For them, marriage often means a lifetime of rape and domestic servitude.
Unchained is the only organization in the U.S. dedicated to helping those women and girls, by coordinating escapes and providing pro bono legal representation, wraparound social services and emotional support. Unchained also is the only organization dedicated to ending forced and child marriage in America.
Unchained is proud to announce that founder/executive director Fraidy Reiss will speak at this year’s global Trust Conference, hosted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Reiss will talk about child marriage and forced marriage in America as part of a discussion on why advancements on women’s rights have slowed down worldwide.
Global leaders, government representatives and pioneering activists convene annually at the groundbreaking two-day event, to explore practical ways to advance human rights worldwide. Last year’s conference boasted 700 global leaders from 60 countries, and this year’s event promises to be even more inspiring. The conference will be held in London from November 15-16.
Unchained’s work to end child marriage in America just won a prestigious international award: the 2017 TrustLaw Impact Award.
The award, presented by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, honored Unchained’s work – in partnership with the law firm White & Case – to eliminate a human-rights abuse that many are shocked to learn still happens in the United States. The Impact Award recognizes projects around the world that demonstrate significant impact for an NGO or social enterprise, its community and beyond. Unchained’s founder and executive director, Fraidy Reiss, along with White & Case’s Jacqui MacLennan, gratefully accepted the award in London.
“We at Unchained are deeply honored to receive this international recognition,” Reiss said later. “This award helps shine a giant spotlight on the problem of child marriage in America and helps us move closer to solving it.”
Some 150 people attended the awards ceremony and watched this short film about Unchained’s campaign to end child marriage in America.
Photo Credits: Thomson Reuters Foundation, Fraidy Reiss
Unchained is humbled that its work to end child marriage in America – in partnership with the law firm White & Case – has been nominated for a 2017 Impact Award by Reuters TrustLaw.
The Impact Award recognizes projects around the world that demonstrate significant impact for an NGO or social enterprise, its community and beyond. The award is presented at the TrustLaw Awards, an annual ceremony hosted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation to celebrate the groundbreaking pro bono projects undertaken by legal teams working with NGOs and social enterprises.
The 2017 TrustLaw Awards ceremony will be held on 28 September in London – and Unchained will be in attendance, whether it wins the award or not. Keep your fingers crossed.
As the Majestic Princess yacht glided tonight past Lady Liberty, symbol of freedom and opportunity, a forced-marriage survivor shared her traumatic story with some 120 people on board. She described feeling increasingly trapped and helpless as her parents planned to force her into marriage, so much so that she became suicidal.
It never occurred to her that she should and could escape – at least, not until her close friend discovered Unchained At Last, she said. Unchained helped the survivor escape her forced marriage and rebuild her life.
Her story was one of the highlights of Dinner on the River, a dinner cruise on the Hudson that Unchained hosted to help end forced and child marriage in America. The dinner cruise also featured a tasty buffet dinner, a premium open bar and striking views of the sun setting over New York and New Jersey landmarks while guests danced to a lively mix of ’80s dance music and Top 40 hits. Winners of the silent auction and raffle snapped up a red Kate Spade tote, a FitBit wristband and, for one lucky winner, two tickets to The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
The event raised some $26,000 to help end forced and child marriage in the U.S.
Dinner on the River honored two of the more than 215 attorneys who generously donate their services to unchain women and girls from forced marriages:
The event was made possible by Dr. Robin Lustig, who graciously underwrote the event in loving memory of her mother, Jessie Lustig.
Photo Credit: Chaya Reiss
Who says you can’t have fun and fight to end forced and child marriage in America at the same time? On September 10th, 2017 join us for a magical night of dancing, dining, music and drinks aboard a private yacht on the Hudson River, complete with a picturesque sunset over New York and New Jersey landmarks.
Enjoy:
Cocktail attire, please.
Click here to get your tickets, sponsor the event or place an ad in the event program to congratulate the honorees, promote your business and/or send a supportive message to women and girls fleeing forced marriages.
Proceeds will help end forced and child marriage in America.
This event honors two of Unchained’s pro bono attorneys, who have shown extraordinary generosity to women fleeing forced marriages:
Dinner on the River is generously underwritten by Dr. Robin Lustig in loving memory of her mother, Jessie Lustig.
Today Unchained’s Fraidy Reiss – along with Zonta International, UNICEF USA, Girls Not Brides, ADWAN of Nepal, Soroptimist International and the Permanent Representative of Zambia to the UN – presented at a UN side event: a discussion on the elimination of child marriage and forced marriage, that coincided with the High-Level Political Forum 2017.
A group of nearly 50 protesters of all ages, dressed in bridal gowns, chains and veils, joined Unchained At Last for a Chain-In outside of NJ Asm. Jon Bramnick’s office on June 14, 2017 – to urge Bramnick to stand up to Gov. Chris Christie and withdraw A4883, the bill Bramnick introduced to accept Christie’s conditional veto of A3091. That bill would have ended child marriage in New Jersey.
Survivors and activists, including high school and middle school students, addressed the crowd sharing powerful stories of forced child marriage and voicing outrage that child marriage remains legal in New Jersey because of Christie’s veto.
“Do I look old enough to get married?” asked eighth grader Sophie Tannenbaum.
“NO!” the protesters replied.
Photo Credit: Christina Morris
Speakers who addressed the crowd at the Chain-In included:
Saxophonist Chris Lijoi led protesters as they sang “We Are Girls, Not Brides”, haunting song written by girls in Zambia and owned by Girls Not Brides.
Read more about the Chain-In in TAPinto Westfield. And read here about Unchained’s past Chain-Ins.
SHOCKING VETO
Under current law in New Jersey, children age 16 or 17 can marry with parental “consent” (which often is “coercion”). Children 15 and younger – with no minimum age – can marry with judicial approval (and the law does not specify any criteria that a judge must consider).
Some 3,600 children as young as 13 were married in New Jersey between 1995 and 2014 – almost all girls wed to adult men. More than 105 of them were married, with judicial approval, to older spouses with an age difference that constitutes statutory rape. Yet Christie insisted with his conditional veto that this same failed judicial-review process now be used for children at precisely the ages, 16 and 17, when they face the greatest risk of forced marriage.
Further, Christie’s conditional veto did not even try to address the two main reasons we must end child marriage. First, children can easily be forced into marriage or forced to stay in a marriage before they turn 18 and become legal adults. They face overwhelming legal and practical barriers if they try to leave home, access a shelter, retain an attorney or bring a legal action.
Second, the lifelong impacts of marriage before 18 on girls’ health, education and economic opportunities and overall quality of life are devastating enough that the U.S. State Department considers marriage before 18 a “human rights abuse.”
Bramnick, in his bill to accept Christie’s unacceptable conditional veto, added a line about allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to marry if they would suffer “substantial harm” by not marrying. This language is offensive to children. How can a child suffer “substantial harm” by NOT being subjected to a human-rights abuse? Is Bramnick providing cover for the parents and judges who have been caught forcing pregnant girls to marry their own rapist?
Unchained urges Bramnick: Do not cave to a governor who has shown deplorable lack of concern about children. Stand up to the governor. Override his veto.
First Gov. Chris Christie – in an act of ignorance or malice – conditionally vetoed A3091, the bill we at Unchained helped to write to end child marriage in New Jersey. The bill that passed overwhelmingly in both houses of the legislature. The bill that would have made New Jersey the first state to eliminate a human-rights abuse that primarily affects girls.
And then Asm. Jon Bramnick introduced a bill to accept Christie’s outrageous conditional veto.
This calls for a protest.
We urge you to Chain-In with us outside Bramnick’s office in Westfield on Wednesday, June 14. We’ll wear bridal gowns and veils (which we’ll provide!). We’ll chain our arms and tape our mouths. We’ll urge Bramnick to withdraw his bill.
Together, we’ll send a powerful message to Bramnick and other legislators: Stand up to the governor. #OverrideChristie. End child marriage in New Jersey.
The survivors, activists and allies who address the crowd at the the Chain-In will include:
Saxophonist Chris Lijoi will lead protesters in a rendition of “We Are Girls, Not Brides,” a haunting song written by girls in Zambia. Click on the image below to watch the girls in Zambia perform “We Are Girls, Not Brides.” (Girls Not Brides has granted permission for use of the song.)
Under current law in New Jersey, children age 16 or 17 can marry with parental “consent” (which often is “coercion”). Children 15 and younger – with no minimum age – can marry with judicial approval (and the law does not specify any criteria that a judge must consider).
Some 3,600 children as young as 13 were married in New Jersey between 1995 and 2014 – almost all girls wed to adult men. More than 105 of them were married, with judicial approval, to older spouses with an age difference that constitutes statutory rape. Yet Christie insisted with his conditional veto that this same failed judicial-review process now be used for children at precisely the ages, 16 and 17, when they face the greatest risk of forced marriage.
Further, Christie’s conditional veto did not even try to address the two main reasons we must end child marriage. First, children can easily be forced into marriage or forced to stay in a marriage before they turn 18 and become legal adults. They face overwhelming legal and practical barriers if they try to leave home, access a shelter, retain an attorney or bring a legal action.
Second, the lifelong impacts of marriage before 18 on girls’ health, education and economic opportunities and overall quality of life are devastating enough that the U.S. State Department considers marriage before 18 a “human rights abuse.”
Bramnick, in his bill to accept Christie’s unacceptable conditional veto, added a line about allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to marry if they would suffer “substantial harm” by not marrying. This language is offensive to children. How can a child suffer “substantial harm” by NOT being subjected to a human-rights abuse? Is Bramnick providing cover for the parents and judges who have been caught forcing pregnant girls to marry their own rapist?
We urge Bramnick: Do not cave to a governor who has shown deplorable lack of concern about children. Stand up to the governor. Override his veto.
Child marriage – or marriage before age 18 – is a human-rights abuse that undermines girls’ health, education and economic opportunities and increases their risk of experiencing violence. Often, too, child marriage is forced marriage: Children can easily be forced into or trapped within a marriage, because they cannot easily access legal and other resources.
Yet marriage before 18 is legal in all 50 US states, and many thousands of children were married in the U.S. in the last decade. In New Jersey alone, some 2,000 children as young as 13 were married between 2000 and 2014 – mostly girls wed to adult men. And forced marriage happens to adults too, but the US has long lagged behind other countries in acknowledging and responding to this human rights abuse.
The solution? Unchained started and now leads a growing national movement to end child marriage in the US, state by state, by writing, introducing and passing legislation to eliminate marriage before age 18.
Join the movement. Chain-In with us to grab the attention of policymakers and the public, and help end child marriage in America.
Read more here about Unchained’s past Chain-Ins.
Q: I don’t have a bridal gown and veil. What should I do?
A: No problem. Wear a white top, and indicate when you register that you want Unchained to loan you a free veil and a free gown you can wear over your own clothing or instead of it. (You are encouraged to wear a gown and veil regardless of your gender identity.)
Q: I prefer not to wear bridal clothing and/or not to chain my arms or tape my mouth. May I still join the Chain-In?
A: Absolutely!
Q: Should I bring my own chains and tape?
A: No, do not bring your own chains and tape. Unchained will provide free plastic chains and comfortable tape.
Q: Is this legal?
A: Yes, the Chain-In is completely legitimate. Unchained has the backing of the First Amendment and permission from the Westfield Police Department.
Q: How much does it cost to join the Chain-In?
A: Joining the Chain-In is free – but please consider donating to Unchained to help offset the cost of the Chain-In and to help women and girls across the U.S. who are fleeing forced marriages.
Q: Where is the exact Chain-In location?
A: The Chain-In will be held in front of Bramnick’s office at 251 North Avenue W in Westfield, which is adjacent to the train station.
Q: What time does the Chain-In begin and end?
A: Please arrive at 6:30 p.m. to sign in and get into Chain-In attire. The actual Chain-In will begin 7 p.m. and end around 8 p.m.
Q: Will the Chain-In proceed in case of bad weather?
A: The protest will proceed unless officials declare a state of emergency.
Q: How else can I help end child and forced marriage?
A: Whether or not you can join the Chain-In, please take these steps:
Some 30 protesters joined Unchained At Last for a Chain-In in Trenton on June 1, 2017 – dressed in bridal gowns and veils, with arms chained and mouths taped – to send a powerful message to New Jersey legislators: override Gov. Christie’s conditional veto of A3091, the bill that would end child marriage in New Jersey.
Photo Credit: Kyle O’Leary
The activists who addressed the crowd at the the Chain-In included:
Read more about the Chain-In in the Star Ledger. And read here about Unchained’s past Chain-Ins.
Child marriage – or marriage before age 18 – is a human-rights abuse that undermines girls’ health, education and economic opportunities and increases their risk of experiencing violence. Often, too, child marriage is forced marriage: Children can easily be forced into or trapped within a marriage, because they cannot easily access legal and other resources.
Yet marriage before 18 is legal in all 50 US states, and many thousands of children were married in the U.S. in the last decade. In Massachusetts alone, some 1,190 children as young as 14 were married between 2000 and 2014 – mostly girls wed to adult men. And forced marriage happens to adults too, but the US has long lagged behind other countries in acknowledging and responding to this human rights abuse.
The solution? Unchained started and now leads a growing national movement to end child marriage in the US, state by state, by writing, introducing and passing legislation to eliminate marriage before age 18.
Join the movement. Chain-In with us at a future Chain-In to grab the attention of policymakers and the public, and help end child marriage in America.
