Child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) is a human rights violation and a harmful practice that disproportionately affects women and girls globally, preventing them from living their lives free from all forms of violence.
Several international instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights call for a uniform age of marriage and emphasise the importance of free, full and informed consent to marriage.
The Committee on the Rights of the Child recommends that the minimum age of marriage be 18 years, while CEDAW obligates States to ensure, on the basis of equality between men and women, the right to freely choose a spouse and enter into marriage only with free and full consent.
Comments are closed.