New legislation increasing the legal age of marriage to 18 has come into force in England and Wales.
Under the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act, it is now a crime to exploit vulnerable children by arranging for them to marry, or enter a civil partnership, under any circumstances.
Campaigners argued that a loophole allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to marry with parental consent was being exploited to coerce young people into child marriage.
The change was introduced through a Private Member’s Bill brought to Parliament by Pauline Latham OBE MP and was supported by campaign organisations within the Girls Not Brides Coalition, which work to end child marriage and ‘honour’-based abuse.
Pauline Latham MP said:
This is a landmark day for the campaigners who have worked relentlessly for over 5 years to ban child marriage in this country.
Child marriage destroys lives and through this legislation we will protect millions of boys and girls over the coming years from this scourge.
Minister for Safeguarding, Sarah Dines MP, said:
Forced marriage is an abuse of human rights which denies vulnerable children the freedom to learn, grow and thrive. Like all other forms of abuse, I’m committed to stamping out this exploitative practice.
In addition to this welcome new legislation, we are also continuing to provide training and guidance to equip the police, social workers and other frontline professionals to support and safeguard victims.
Those found guilty of arranging child marriages face up to seven years in prison.
