The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 come into force on Monday 27 February. It means that 16 and 17 year olds will no longer be allowed to marry or enter a civil partnership, even if they have parental consent.
It is now illegal and a criminal offence to exploit vulnerable children by arranging for them to marry, under any circumstances whether or not force is used.
Richard Fuller MP said:
Forced marriage is an abuse on human rights which denies vulnerable children the freedom to learn, grow and thrive.
From 27 February, 16- and 17-year-olds will no longer be allowed to marry or enter a civil partnership, even if they have parental consent. Those who act to manipulate children into marrying under-age will face the full force of the law.
The change will crack down on forced marriages and forms part of the government's continued commitment to tackle violence against women and girls.
Those found guilty of arranging child marriages face sentences of up to 7 years in prison.
The age of 18 is widely recognised as the age at which one becomes an adult and gains full citizenship rights.
Child marriage is often associated with domestic abuse towards girls, leaving education early, limited career opportunities, and serious physical and mental health problems. The change honours the government’s commitment to the pledge made to the United Nations to end child marriage by 2030.
Previously forced marriage was only an offence if the person uses a type of coercion, for example threats, to cause someone to marry. It is now an offence to cause a child under the age of 18 to enter a marriage in any circumstances, without the need to prove that a form of coercion was used. This includes non-legally binding ‘traditional’ ceremonies which would still be viewed as marriages by the parties and their families.
