Marriage Bill likely to pass

Added defence against forced child marriages expected

WELLINGTON: A law that gives children more protection against forced marriage is expected to pass with unanimous support in Parliament today.

The Marriage (Court Consent to Marriage of Minors) Amendment Bill aims to prevent forced marriages of mostly girls, aged 16 and 17 and considered minors by the state, by changing the requirement of consent from parents to a Family Court judge.

The change also applies to civil unions and de facto relationships.

Dozens of teens are married in New Zealand each year and Shakti New Zealand, a community organisation which works with migrant and refugee women of Asian, African and Middle Eastern origin, says it sees the damage done by forced marriage.

The organisation has been one of the driving forces behind the legislation.

Shakti national youth coordinator Mengzhu Fu said the youngest bride she had seen in New Zealand was 14.

‘‘It was not a registered marriage but it was a culturally conducted marriage,’’ Ms Fu said.

‘‘In the early 2000s we’ve had several cases of young women that have come to us for support because of either the threat of forced marriage or because they have been forced into a marriage at a young age.

‘‘So we saw a real need for there to be some kind of legislative protection that can prevent these kinds of marriages from happening.’’

The architect of the member’s Bill, which languished in the ballot for five years before being drawn last year, is Jackie Blue, the former National MP who is now Human Rights Commission equal opportunities commissioner.

Dr Blue said she was delighted the Bill would finally pass.

‘‘You’ve really got to give credit to Shakti who really have raised the issue of forced and underage marriage in New Zealand right from the early 2000s.’’

‘‘I’m totally delighted. It’s a long time waiting.

‘‘We know potentially there could be a lot of young girls . . . getting married against their will.

‘‘Hopefully going to the Family Court gives them the ability for someone to actually assess whether they are being coerced or not,’’ Dr Blue said.

National MP Jo Hayes, who took up the baton on the Bill after Dr Blue left Parliament, said New Zealand previously had no legislation on child marriage.

But she said the problem was growing and the Bill was about ‘‘nipping it in the bud’’.

The Bill has its third reading today and is expected to pass with support of all parties. — NZME