England and Wales
Henceforth, one must be of legal age to marry
The law, which comes into force on Monday, raises the minimum age of marriage from 16 to 18. Its purpose is to protect minors from forced marriages.
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A minor is now prohibited from marrying or forming a civil union, even with parental consent. This also applies to purely religious or “traditional” ceremonies that have no legal value.
Laurent Grottet – The Morning
Raising the minimum age for marriage in England and Wales from 16 to 18 comes into effect on Monday, under legislation passed last year to protect minors from forced marriages. It is now prohibited for a minor to marry or form a civil union, even with parental consent, and this also applies to purely religious or “traditional” ceremonies that have no legal value.
The Act also protects British minors or people married abroad living in England or Wales. Until now, marriage was recognized from the age of 16, provided the children involved had parental consent.
In 2018, 119 girls and 28 boys were forced into marriage.
Although it is difficult to estimate the extent of this phenomenon, many unions involving children are hidden, and in 2021, 118 cases of minors were reported to the Forced Marriage Unit, which is responsible for counseling and assisting victims of these forced unions. Young women are the most affected. According to the Ministry of Justice, 119 girls under the age of 18 were forced into marriage in 2018 in both countries, compared to 28 boys.
“This legislation will better protect vulnerable young people and prevent forced marriages in our society.”
Dominic Raab, British Minister of Justice
“This legislation will protect vulnerable young people by preventing forced marriages in our society,” UK Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said. A person convicted of arranging a child marriage can be jailed for up to seven years.
“This is one of the world’s most successful laws on child marriage and it protects every child born in this country from the dangers and harms of marriage without consent,” said Conservative MP Pauline Latham. Law, in a column published in the “Daily Express” on Monday.
“Today is indeed a moment of celebration,” Baysi Mahmoud, a victim and activist of a forced marriage in the early 2000s, responded on the BBC. He said he was “excited and very moved by this country’s” most important steps. It took to protect the children.”
(AFP)
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