Forced Marriage

Forced marriage is a serious human rights violation that takes place globally, including in Germany. Forced marriage violates the right to self-determination and the dignity of those affected. A forced marriage occurs when at least one of the spouses is forced to enter into a marriage through the use of violence or threats. This can apply to both officially formalized marriages and religious or social ceremonies of marriage. Forced marriages occur worldwide in all social classes as well as ethnic, religious and cultural contexts and are usually the result of patriarchal family structures. Girls and young women are often affected, but boys and young men can also be affected. It is important to differentiate this phenomenon from arranged marriages, even if it is not always easy to recognize, these are often arranged by family members, but with the full consent of both spouses.

The law to combat child marriages came into force in Germany on July 22, 2017 in. The law raised the age of consent for marriage in Germany to 18 without exception. This means that state marriages involving minors are no longer permitted in Germany.