VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Children under 18 will no longer be allowed to marry in Malta, even with parental or guardian consent, under new legislation presented in Parliament.
The proposed amendment to the Various Laws Relating to Forced Marriages was tabled by Junior Minister for Reforms Rebecca Buttigieg during the bill’s second reading. The reform would set the minimum legal age for all civil, religious, and cultural marriages at 18, eliminating all current exceptions.
“This reform ensures that marriage is entered into freely and with maturity,” Buttigieg said, noting that previous laws had been “open to abuse.”
The move follows recommendations from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, which urged Malta to close legal loopholes enabling child marriage. The urgency of the change was underscored by a 2023 case in which a minor was sold and forced into marriage for €5,000.
The bill also extends protections to informal or traditional unions involving minors, aimed at preventing forced or arranged marriages in all communities.
The law is seen as a key step toward aligning Malta’s child protection framework with international human rights standards.+
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS)
