More than 100 children married in Northern Ireland during wait to raise minimum age to 18
More than 100 children married in Northern Ireland during wait to raise minimum age to 18
In Northern Ireland, more than 100 children have been married while the region awaits legislation to raise the minimum marriage age to 18. Currently, the law permits 16 and 17-year-olds to marry, which differs from the legal frameworks in England, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland, where the minimum marriage age is set at 18. This discrepancy has prompted calls for reform, with pending legislation aimed at aligning Northern Ireland’s marriage laws with those of its neighboring jurisdictions. The ongoing debate highlights concerns about child marriages and the need for consistent legal protections across the UK and Ireland. Until the new law is enacted, the current minimum age of 16 remains in effect, allowing such marriages to continue. The situation underscores the urgency of legislative change to prevent further child marriages in Northern Ireland.
