The French parliament have passed a law raising the minimum age at which women can marry from 15 to 18 yrs of age. The new law will also crack down on domestic violence, forced and fake marriages. It was the first time the marriage age had been changed since Napoleon ruled France!!

In 1804, the minimum age for women to marry was set at 15 and for men at 18. The new law brings France into line with most other European Union member countries, where the minimum age for marriage is 18 for both sexes.

The higher marriage age was an effort to discourage forced marriages that occur in some immigrant communities. A panel set up by the prime minister’s office estimated in 2003 that an incredible 70,000 teenagers were affected by forced marriages.

The government is also seeking to reduce fraudulent marriages that some immigrants use to acquire residency rights. Justice Minister Pascal Clement said that one out of three married couples in France are people of different nationalitie