[user104658]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

Don't start. We both know it doesn't but at least it gives us the ability to punish the filthy bastards who decide to carry on with the practice and it does give some protection to those little girls and affords any sympathetic relatives the opportunity to get official help.

But surely it is already illegal and still happens? To be honest... Regardless of legality, and though its obviously not AS bad, it still leaves a sour taste when 30+ year olds are marrying 16 year olds (with family pressure) which is of course totally legal. It has to be tackled at a cultural level, as well as a legal level, or its pointless.

As has been said "forced marriages" are wrong even when it's not children who are the victims of it, and how can you tackle that legally? Usually in the west it's not literal force or the threat of violence - its simple obedience to the authority of parents, threats of being disowned by the family, shamed, etc. and you can't legislate against those things. Yes it's abhorrent for any parent to disown and shame their young adult offspring for not being obedient - but it's impossible to make it illegal. So people will legally agree to arranged marriage, just like ol' Prince Charles did, out of duty... Even though if you really look at it, it's still forced.