This paper addresses matters related to the right to marry (Article 9) falling under Title II ‘Freedoms’ of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and briefly describes the phenomenon of forced marriage, examines selected legislative measures taken to address it and lists promising initiatives to prevent forced marriage and support victims. It is primarily based on desk research carried out in five European Union (EU) Member States: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
This report highlights the concern that despite several legislations and policies, child marriage in India is still a widely prevalent practice with its debilitating causes and consequences. The problem of child marriages within the cultural context of Indian society is the key theme with a special focus on gender and child rights perspectives.