A new law increasing the legal age of marriage not only reflects the decline in the number of young people marrying in England and Wales today but also honours the government’s commitment to the pledge made to the United Nations to end child marriage by 2030.
What does this change mean?
As a result of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022, young people aged 16 and 17 are no longer able to get married or be a part of a civil partnership under any circumstance, whether they have their parents’ permission or judicial permission.
Why?
Several factors have contributed towards the decision to increase the legal age, one being the significant decrease in the number of young people marrying in England and Wales today. According to the 2021 Census, 5.8 million of young people between the ages of 25 and 35 were unmarried, compared to 2.7 million in 2011.
However, the Act is primarily an attempt to safeguard the rights of those children who are not in legally registered partnerships, including children in forced marriages.
Last year alone, the Honour Based Abuse helpline supported 64 cases of child marriages, which represents only a small percentage of a large community of children who are facing forced marriage.
A forced marriage can be extremely harmful for a child and according to the Minister for Safeguarding, Sarah Dines MP, ‘Forced marriage is an abuse of human rights which denies vulnerable children the freedom to learn, grow and thrive.’
As a result of the Act which came into force on 26th February 2023, it is now illegal to arrange for a child to marry in England and Wales and anyone found guilty of arranging a child marriage could face a sentence of seven years imprisonment, at the very least.
The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 is undoubtedly a positive step towards preventing this form of child abuse in our communities.
The government’s statutory guidance and multi-agency practice guidelines on forced marriage have also been updated to reflect this legislation, and are available at The right to choose: government guidance on forced marriage – GOV.UK.
Mae’r oedran cyfreithiol i briodi wedi cynyddu
Deddf Priodasau a Phartneriaethau Sifil (Isafswm Oed) 2022
Mae gostyngiad yn nifer y bobl ifanc yng Nghymru a Lloegr sy’n priodi wedi sbarduno’r galw am gyfraith newydd sydd yn cynyddu’r oedran cyfreithiol i briodi yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Mae hefyd yn anrhydeddu ymrwymiad y llywodraeth i’r addewid a wnaed i’r Cenhedloedd Unedig i ddod â phriodas plant i ben erbyn 2030.
Beth mae’r newid yn ei olygu?
Mae’n golygu na fydd pobl ifanc 16 a 17 oed bellach yn cael priodi neu fod yn rhan o bartneriaeth sifil dan unrhyw amgylchiadau, hyd yn oed os oes ganddynt ganiatâd rhiant neu ganiatâd barnwrol.
Pam?
Mae nifer o ffactorau wedi dylanwadu ar y penderfyniad i gynyddu’r oedran cyfreithiol, gan gynnwys gostyngiad yn nifer y bobl ifanc sydd yn priodi. Yn ôl cyfrifiad 2021, roedd 5.8 miliwn o bobl ifanc rhwng 25 a 35 yn ddi-briod, o’i gymharu â 2.7 miliwn yn 2011.
Ond yn bennaf, mae’r Ddeddf yn ymgais i amddiffyn hawliau plant nad sydd mewn partneriaeth gyfrestredig gyfreithlon, gan gynnwys plant sydd mewn priodasau dan orfodaeth.
Llynedd, cefnogodd y linell gymorth ‘Honour Based Abuse’ 64 achos o briodasau plant, sydd yn cynrychioli canran fechan o gymuned enfawr o blant sydd yn wynebu priodasau dan orfodaeth.
Gall priodas dan orfodaeth achosi niwed parhaol i blentyn ac ys dywed Y Gweinidog Diogelu, Sarah Dines AS: “Mae priodas dan orfod yn gamddefnydd o hawliau dynol sy’n gwadu rhyddid i blant bregus ddysgu, dyfu a ffynnu.”
Yn sgil y Ddeddf a ddaeth i rym ar y 26ain o Chwefror 2023, mae hi erbyn hyn yn anghyfreithlon i drefnu i blentyn briodi yng Nghymru a Lloegr a gall unrhyw un sydd yn euog o drefnu i blentyn i briodi, wynebu dedfryd o hyd at saith mlynedd mewn carchar.
Does dim amheuaeth bod y newid yn gam cadarnhaol ymlaen wrth fynd i’r afael â datrys y broblem o gamdrin plant yn y modd hwn.
Mae modd darllen y canllawiau statudol a chanllawiau ymarfer aml-asiantaeth ar wefan y llywodraeth: Canllawiau statudol amlasiantaethol ar gyfer trin priodas dan orfod a Chanllawiau ymarfer amlasiantaethol: Trin achosion o briodas dan orfod (accessible version) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Mae’r canllawiau wedi eu diweddaru i adlewyrchu’r ddeddfwriaeth newydd.
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Author: Esther Ifan
Published: 30/03/23