In order to shield minors from the evil of forced marriage, the Act would increase the legal age of consent for marriage and civil partnerships in England and Wales to 18.
This implies that beginning on February 26, 2023, 16 and 17-year-olds will not be permitted to marry or form a civil partnership under any circumstances, even with parental or court authorization.
After this day, no one under the age of 18 will be able to be married or form a civil partnership.
Currently, using coercion—such as threats—to compel someone into marriage is only illegal if the target of the coercion lacks the mental capacity required to provide consent, as defined by the Mental Capacity Act.
As a result, the Act would further broaden the definition of forced marriage in England and Wales, making it illegal under any circumstances to do anything with the intention of getting a minor married before they reach 18.
Therefore, it will now be illegal to force a kid under the age of 18 to join a marriage under any circumstances, even if there is no evidence that coercion was involved.
The offence of forced marriage will continue to include marriage rituals that are n