Post written by Alaina Headley – “Child Marriage in India”
My name is Alaina Headley, and I am a first-year law student at Regent University School of Law. I am so thankful and blessed to be a part of the community here.
Even a year ago, I could not have imagined the community God would provide for me here at Regent where I am challenged and equipped daily in a Christ-centered environment.
This semester, I have the privilege of being a student staff member on the Center for Global Justice.
Justice Ventures International (JVI)
I have the opportunity to work on a project for Justice Ventures International (JVI). According to their website,
JVI “partner[s] with local organizations and global stakeholders to eradicate human trafficking and other extreme injustice by securing justice for individuals, empowering local partners and improving justice systems.”
I am working with a team to compile a resource for combatting child marriage in India. Child marriage is illegal in India, yet it continues to be a prevailing issue. While overall child marriage statistics have declined over the years, the issue has heightened as a result of the pandemic.
My role specifically is to research organizations in India that work to combat child marriage.
In my research, I am learning about ways these organizations can prevent child marriage outside of traditional legal methods that do not always work effectively. A few important ways include creating awareness, promoting agency, and valuing education. It is also important to engage multiple stakeholders and create a wide support network.
My Experience
My experience so far as a student staff member on the Center has been eye-opening. Oftentimes, it is easy to get caught up in my personal problems and the stressors of daily life and law school. Working on this project weekly gets my perspective off of myself and reminds me of the issues that men, women, and in this case, children experience around the world.
As I grow in my understanding of human rights issues, my goal is to have a mindset of transformation and redemption. Issues such as child marriage are often heavy and heartbreaking. However, when I think about the effect these efforts may have on even just one life, I am encouraged.
It is a privilege to play even a small part of advocating for justice by working on this project through the Center. I look forward to gaining a deeper awareness of advocating for human rights.
If you would like to learn more about JVI, you can visit their website at https://www.justiceventures.org/
This post was written by a Center for Global Justice Student Staff member. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.