Madrid: Spain has decided to raise the minimum age for marriage from 14 to 16. The human rights groups have assumed that the move to increase the minimum age limit for marriage
would be to abolish forced marriages and sexual exploitation.
Even though the marriage still needs either parental consent or judicial authorization. However, the legal marrying age in most cases still stands as 18 years. Months before, the government had decided to raise the age of consent for sexual relations from 13 to 16.
The United Nations and children’s charities had earlier urged Spain to bring the age limit of marriage in par with that existing in other European countries. They had also pointed out that the existing law could abuse vulnerable children.
The organization ‘Save the Children from Spain’, which appreciated the government move said that the new measure would help to protect and avoid possible forced marriages, sexual exploitation and other offenses especially against minor girls.
UNICEF has also welcomed the desired change after years of campaigning. They were raised concerns over interrupted education and child abuse over the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and Council of Europe.
Before the implementation of the fresh decision, 14-years were allowed to marry with authorization from a judge, while those aged 16 or over required parental consent.
Couples from Spain’s Roma community are traditionally get married to counterparts, younger than other groups. But now, the leaders of the community said that it was high time to change that culture.
Video on Spain’s decision to raise the age for marriage from 14 to 16
