It is prejudicial to their physical and psychological welfare.ĩ. Child marriage in itself infringes their rights as children. The Assembly deplores the drastic effects of marriage on married children. The Assembly defines child marriage as the union of two persons at least one of whom is under eighteen years of age.Ĩ. The Assembly stresses the relevance of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 843 (IX) of 17 December 1954 declaring certain customs, ancient laws and practices relating to marriage and the family to be inconsistent with the principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.ħ. Since it infringes the fundamental human rights of the individual, forced marriage can in no way be justified.Ħ.
The Assembly defines forced marriage as the union of two persons at least one of whom has not given their full and free consent to the marriage.ĥ. It is outraged by the fact that, under the cloak of respect for the culture and traditions of the migrant communities, there are authorities which tolerate forced marriages and child marriages although they violate the fundamental rights of each and every victim.Ĥ. The Assembly observes that the problem arises chiefly in migrant communities and primarily affects young women and girls.ģ.
The Parliamentary Assembly is deeply concerned about the serious and recurrent violations of human rights and the rights of the child which are constituted by “forced marriages” and child marriages.Ģ. The Assembly should recommend that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe instruct the appropriate intergovernmental committee to make a thorough analysis of forced marriages and child marriages and devise a strategy encouraging member states to take a number of specific practical measures.ġ. The Parliamentary Assembly should urge the national parliaments of the Council of Europe member states to adapt their domestic legislation, if appropriate, so as to fix at or raise to eighteen years the minimum statutory age of marriage for women and men, make it easier for forced and child marriages to be prevented, detected and annulled and to bring to justice the perpetrators of rape within such marriages, as well as those who aided and abetted the contracting of such a marriage.
Such marriages should no longer take place in our societies that uphold human rights and the rights of the child.
Child marriage is defined as the union of two persons at least one of whom is under eighteen years of age. It is an outrage that, under the cloak of respect for the culture and traditions of certain communities, there are authorities which tolerate forced marriages and child marriages although they violate the fundamental rights of each and every victim.įorced marriage is defined as the union of two persons at least one of whom has not given their full and free consent to the marriage. Rapporteur: Mrs Rosmarie Zapfl-Helbling, Switzerland, Group of the European People’s Partyįorced marriages and child marriages constitute serious and recurrent violations of human rights and the rights of the child. Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men