Underage Marriage Across the Globe: Ethical Considerations for Social Workers
Event details
Date: November 19, 2025
Location:
Virtual
Join us on Wednesday, November 19 from 12:00–3:00 PM with presenter Dr. Wafa Alhajri, Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work.
International conventions prohibit child marriage and define eighteen as the age of adulthood. Yet, the practice persists worldwide, often rooted in cultural or religious traditions and disproportionately affecting young girls. Underage marriage undermines health, education, and opportunities while raising critical concerns from a social work ethical perspective. Dr. Alhajri will examine the prevalence of underage marriage globally, with particular attention to Muslim cultural contexts and policy reforms in Saudi Arabia, while highlighting the ethical challenges that arise when law and tradition collide.
