Law banning marriage under 18 praised as ‘huge victory’ for children’s rights

‘No child should be subjected to the lifelong harms that come with child marriage,’ charity says

Legislation that comes into force on Monday means 16 and 17-year-olds can no longer get married or have a civil partnership even if their parents give consent

(PA)

New legislation banning child marriage has come into force in England and Wales in a move that campaigners hailed as a “victory”.

The legal age of marriage has been raised to 18, meaning 16 and 17-year-olds can no longer get married or have a civil partnership even if their parents give consent.

The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022, which was given royal assent in April last year, means it is now against the law to push children into marriage. Offenders who arrange child marriages face a seven-year jail sentence.