Marriage should be a time for celebration and joy – unless you are one of the 67 million girls around the world forced into marriage before the age of 18.

Imagine the life those girls — who are 7, 10 or even 16 years of age — endure. Child brides have a diminished chance of completing their education and are at a higher risk of being physically abused, contracting HIV and other diseases, and dying while pregnant or giving birth.

But it doesn't have to be this way. Please join CARE in helping bring an end to this gross human rights violation that forces 39,000 girls into child marriage every single day. Together we can end child marriage.

Take action by completing one of several activites on our child marriage page or by asking Secretary of State John Kerry to help end child marriage.

Photo: 2010 Jenny Matthews/CARE