Child marriage is a formal or customary union where one or both partners are under 18. While boys are affected, child marriage impacts girls in greater number and constitutes a grave threat to young girls’ lives and future prospects. While marriage would normally be a time to celebrate the union of two people, for millions of girls, marriage is anything but safe and anything but consistent with their best interests. It is a human rights violation that denies a girl of her childhood, disrupts her education, limits her opportunities, increases her risk of violence and abuse, and jeopardizes her health.