Spain has raised the minimum age for marriage to 16 from 14, which had been one of the lowest in the world, as part of a wider reform to improve health and safety for children and adolescents.
The reform, announced by Spanish Minister of Health, Social Services and Equality Ana Mato on Friday, also raises the age for consensual s*x from what was the lowest in Europe at 13. The new age will be decided by Parliament.
The Minister said that change was aimed at “improving the wellbeing and quality of life of youngsters”, reported Xinhua.
Until now, people as young as 14 years could marry with permission from a judge or their family.
