Marriage at 16 violates human rights, says MP

Marriage before the age of 18 is a “fundamental violation of human rights” and should be banned in the UK, ministers have been told.

Pauline Latham, a Conservative MP, said a change in British law would “reverberate around the world”. The Mid Derbyshire MP, introducing the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill, added that raising the age of consent to marriage or civil partnership from 16 to 18 would also protect children. Currently, those aged 16 and 17 can marry in Britain, but require parental consent.