Wales and England to ban child marriage

Last updated on March 11th, 2022 at 04:19 am

Europe – The House of Commons has voted for a bill that makes it illegal to marry a person under the age of 18. The bill would also make child marriage an offence, punishable with up to seven years’ imprisonment.

The bill states that people can only get married in England and Wales if they are at least 18 years old. If it passes the House of Lords, all child marriage will become illegal in England and Wales for the first time. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill would raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 in these countries.

Legal age to get married in England and Wales

Currently, people in England and Wales can be married from the age of 16 with parental permission. It is also important to note that the law in England requires young people to remain in education until they are 18.

The United Kingdom government has taken so long to make changes to an old-fashioned law. It is important to note that only 125 people aged 16- and 17-years old’s got married in England and Wales in 2019, compared to more than 200,000 adults. Even when 16-17 years old can get married in England, only a few people chose to marry.

Some parents in England also think that teenagers are capable of making their decisions and they have the right to express their love. The plan to ban child marriage in these countries can be a huge step as the Bill aims to eradicate child marriage.

In February, the bill which sets a minimum age for marriage of 18 in England and Wales, passed through the Commons. The bill was introduced after campaigners questioned why the legal age of marriage in these countries is still 16? Campaigners said that Child marriage is child abuse.