Spain raises minimum marriage age to 16

SPAIN is set to fall in line with most other European nations after an increase of the minimum age of marriage from 14 to 16 passes through legislation processes this week.

The legislation was approved by the lower house of Parliament last month and was sent to the Senate on Friday for debate and likely approval over the coming months.

At the moment, Spanish law allows 14-year-olds to marry with permission from a judge. Without such consent, they must wait until they are 18.

Spain has one of Europe’s lowest minimum ages for marriage in the EU, with most countries’ laws set at 16.

Ana Sastre of Save the Children in Spain said the proposal came after United Nations experts in 2010 urged Spain to address the matter.