Birmingham s new Lord Mayor speaks of challenge of Covid over coming year
New Lord Mayor Cllr Muhammad Afzal was appointed this week
12:00, 27 MAY 2021
Updated
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Thank you for subscribingWe have more newslettersShow meSee ourprivacy notice Birminghamâs new Lord Mayor has said Covid will be the primary challenge during his year in office after taking up the role this week.
LONDON: A legal loophole that allows children aged 16 and 17 in England and Wales to marry with parental consent is being exploited to coerce children into marriages they do not want, rights campaigners have warned.
Some 20 organizations have signed a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling for the forced marriage law to be strengthened to protect children.
They say there is no legal provision across Britain to prevent religious child marriages from taking place regardless of age.
Campaigners from the Girls Not Brides UK partnership wrote: “Child marriage is often viewed as a ‘developing world issue’ and one that exclusively takes place overseas. The reality is that child marriage is an invisible but thriving issue in the UK today.”
Last modified on Tue 4 May 2021 14.58 EDT
A legal loophole that allows 16- and 17-year-olds in England and Wales to marry with parental consent is being exploited and used to coerce young people into child marriage, campaigners have warned.
More than 20 organisations have signed a letter to the prime minister insisting current forced marriage law does not go far enough in protecting young people.
Furthermore, there is no legal provision across the UK to prevent religious or customary child marriages from taking place â at any age.
In a letter to Boris Johnson, four co-chairs of the Girls Not Brides UK partnership wrote: âChild marriage is often viewed as a âdeveloping world issueâ and one that exclusively takes place overseas. The reality is that child marriage is an invisible but thriving issue in the UK today.â
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