A new law raising the legal age of marriage to 18 has been hailed as a "huge victory for survivors".
In an effort to better protect children from forced marriage, 16 and 17-year-olds can no longer marry or enter into a civil partnership in England or Wales, even with parental consent, as of Monday.The change, under the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act, means it is now a crime to exploit vulnerable children by arranging for them to marry under any circumstances, whether or not force was used.The law will cover non-legally binding “traditional” ceremonies which would still be viewed as marriages by the parties and their families, the Government said.The new legislation has been dubbed a "huge step forward" in combating the "hidden abuse" of forced marriage.Natasha Rattu, director of the Karma Nirvana charity, which is a member of the Girls Not Brides Coalition, expressed hope that such cases will be better identified and reported.The change in legislation on child marriage is a huge victory for survivors," she said. It is a huge step forward in addressing this often hidden abuse and will provide greater protection to those who are vulnerable."Last year, the national Honour Based Abuse helpline supported 64 cases of child marriage, representing only a small picture of a much bigger problem. We hope that the new law will aid in increased identification and reporting, providing greater protection to vulnerable children."In 2021, the government's forced marriage unit provided advice or assistance in 118 cases involving victims under the age of 18.According to the Ministry of Justice, statistics show that forced marriage affects girls more than boys, with 28 boys married under the age of 18 in England and Wales in 2018 compared to 119 girls.Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said perpetrators will face the “full force of the law”, with someone found guilty of arranging child marriages potentially getting a sentence of up to seven years in prison.He said: “This law will better protect vulnerable young people, by cracking down on forced marriage in our society."Those who manipulate children into marrying under the age of consent will now face the full force of the law."Conservative MP Pauline Latham, who introduced the Bill in Parliament in 2021, said Monday is a "landmark day for the campaigners who have worked relentlessly for over five years to ban child marriage in this country"."Child marriage destroys lives," she added, "and through this legislation, we will protect millions of boys and girls from this scourge in the coming years."The Government is working to ensure that, in addition to the new law, training and guidance are provided to equip police, social workers, and other frontline professionals to "support and safeguard victims," according to Safeguarding Minister Sarah Dines.By Covenantblog
