Recently, the Iraqi government introduced a bill in parliament that would lower the legal marriage age for women from 18 to just 9 years old. This means that child marriages will once again become acceptable. Activists and protesters in Iraq see this as a serious threat to women’s rights, as it exposes young girls as young as nine years old to forced marriage and “child rape.”
The legal age of marriage varies from country to country across the world. While some countries, like the UK, have set the age at 18 for both men and women, minors are still allowed to marry with parental consent. In India, the legal age of marriage is set at 18 for men and 21 for women. This year, the bill to increase the marriage age for women expired. Child marriage is allowed in many countries. Children of any age can marry with the consent of their parents or father figure. Let’s look at some countries in the world in terms of the highest and lowest age of marriage.Marriage age as a right
Countries with the highest legal marriage age
Countries with the lowest legal marriage age
The legal age of marriage varies from country to country across the world. While some countries, like the UK, have set the age at 18 for both men and women, minors are still allowed to marry with parental consent. In India, the legal age of marriage is set at 18 for men and 21 for women. This year, the bill to increase the marriage age for women expired. Child marriage is allowed in many countries. Children of any age can marry with the consent of their parents or father figure. Let’s look at some countries in the world in terms of the highest and lowest age of marriage.
Marriage age as a right
With a few exceptions that vary from country to country, most governments allow marriages between people under 18. In 2010, 158 countries declared 18 the legal minimum age for women to marry without parental consent or approval. In 180 countries, men can marry at 18, and in 105 countries, with parental consent. Many EU countries have tightened their marriage laws in recent years, banning unions between people under 18 or requiring a judge’s approval. Other emerging economies have also passed very similar laws.
Countries with the highest legal marriage age
Countries with the lowest legal marriage age
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