A coalition of more than 45 UN agencies, INGOs, NGOs, CSOs, WROs, and academic partners, brought together by the common goal of ending child marriage in Arab states and the wider MENA region.
We are delighted to share RAF's March 2026 Newsletter with you.
RAF's annual report for 2025 covers all achievements related to technical webinars, research, advocacy and coordinati
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
Under the Persons and Family Law No. 126 of 2008, the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years for both men and women. However, due to the absence of legal penalties, families can bypass the law and conclude child marriages through religious ceremonies and then wait till the bride turns 18 to have the marriage legally registered.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
According to Article 13 of the Family Code 2002, the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years. However, marriage is possible under 18 years if it is authorized by a guardian or (if the guardian refuses) by a judge.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
According to Article 13 of the Family Code 2002, the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years. However, marriage is possible under 18 years if it is authorized by a guardian or (if the guardian refuses) by a judge.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
Under the Family Code 2005, men and women can marry at 19 years old. However legal loopholes, judicial and parental exceptions mean that there is no specified minimum age of marriage in Algeria.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
Under the Civil Code 2007, marriage “before the age of majority” is prohibited. However, the age of majority is 9 years for girls and 15 years for boys.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
Under Article 124 of the Turkish Civil Code 2001 the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years for men and women. However, Articles 11 and 124 allows parties to marry at 17 with parental consent, or, in exceptional circumstances, a court may grant approval for marriage at age 16.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
Under the Jordanian Personal Status law, the minimum legal age for marriage is 18 years. However, children below the age of 16 can receive judicial consent to marry before the age of 16.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
Under Article 26 of the Kuwaiti Personal Status Act No. 51/1984, the minimum age of marriage is 15 for girls and 17 for boys. This law governs marriage and family relations for the Sunni Muslim majority in Kuwait. Under this law, regardless of age, the prospective bride and groom must consent to the marriage and the bride requires the consent of a male marital guardian such as her father, brother or grandfather. However, under Article 24 of the Act a woman may be married before the minimum age if she has reached puberty.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
Lebanon has no minimum legal age for marriage for all its citizens as it differs across religions. Religious courts set the age based on 15 different personal status laws, some of which allow girls younger than 15 to marry.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
Under the Law No. (10) of 1984 on the provisions concerning marriage, divorce and their effects, the minimum legal age of marriage in Libya is 20 years. However, a girl or boy under the age of 20 may get married with court authorization if they have the consent of their parent or guardian.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
In 2004, the Moroccan Government introduced a new family code (Moudawana). This law was aimed at increasing women’s rights and raising the minimum age for marriage from 15 to 18. However legal discretionary powers meant that girls may marry before 18 years with judicial consent. A majority of child marriages take place within rural areas and under Muslim customary law.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
The minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years, this is established under Article 7 of the Personal Status Law. However, under Article 10 of the Personal Status Law, marriage under the age of 18 is allowed if it is considered to be in the bride’s best interests, if her guardian consents, or with permission from a judge.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
In the West Bank, the age of consent for marriage is 15 for girls and 16 for boys. In the Gaza Strip, the age of consent is 17 for girls and 18 for boys.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
Under Article 17 of the Family Act No. 22 of 2006, the minimum legal age of marriage is 16 years for girls and 18 years for boys. However, girls can be married off before the age of 16 with the consent of the legal guardian and the two persons to be married.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
In February 2021, the Ministry of Justice announced that an amendment would be made to the Personal Status Law to raise the minimum legal age of marriage to 18 for both boys and girls. Prior to the amendment, there was no minimum legal age of marriage in Saudi Arabia.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
The provisional Somalian Constitution (2012) states that a “marriage shall not be legal without the free consent of both the man and the woman, or if either party has not reached the age of maturity.” However, the Constitution does not define the age of maturity meaning that girls could marry at any age under 18. In addition, according to the Family Code (1975), the legal age for marriage in Somalia is 18 for both men and women. But it provides exceptions for girls to be married at age 16 or younger with a guardian’s consent.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
There is no minimum age of marriage in Sudan. Under Section 25(c) of the Muslim Personal Law Act of Sudan 1991 it states that a marriage is valid with the existence of a guardian who can conclude the contract. Under Section 34(1), it states that the marriage of a pubescent woman shall be concluded by a guardian with the permission and the consent to the husband and dowry. Section 40(3) indicates that a minor (from the age of 10) cannot be married without the permission of a judge and it must be proved that this marriage will be in the best interests of the girl, that her husband is suitable and able to pay the dowry.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
Under the Syrian Personal Status Law, the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years for boys and 17 years for girls. However, girls can marry at 13 years and boys at 15 years with judicial consent.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
In May 2007 the government amended the Personal Status Code to raise the minimum age of marriage for girls and boys to 18 years. Girls below this age can only get married with the consent of both their guardian and their mother, and with special authorisation from a judge in “extremely serious” cases.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
Legal age for marriage set at 18, however, Articles 11 and 124 allow parties to marry at 17 with parental consent, or, in exceptional circumstances, a court may grant approval for marriage at age 16.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
Under the UAE’s Federal Personal Status Act No. 28 of 2005, the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years. However, there are two legal exceptions that allow for child marriage: (1) Boys and girls under the age of 18 can seek permission from a judge to marry or (2) When boys and girls reach the age of puberty, coupled with the permission from both a judge and legal guardian.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
Under the Persons and Family Law No. 126 of 2008, the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years for both men and women. However, due to the absence of legal penalties, families can bypass the law and conclude child marriages through religious ceremonies and then wait till the bride turns 18 to have the marriage legally registered.
OF GIRLS AFFECTED BY CHILD MARRIAGE
Under Article 15 of the amended Yemeni Personal Status Law 1999 there was an amendment to set the minimum age of marriage at 18 years. However, prior to the amendment there was no minimum legal age of marriage. In 2009, there was an attempt by the Yemeni government to define the marriageable age to protect children from early marriage. This bill hoped to set a minimum age for marriage. However, due to the coup it was not entered into force.
We are delighted to share RAF's March 2026 Newsletter with you.
We are delighted to share RAF's November 2025 Newsletter with you.
We are delighted to share RAF's June 2025 Newsletter with you.
11 October 2025 – Today, we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child and
Casablanca, 25 May 2024 – From May 22 to 24, 14 RAF INGO, NGO, UN, and academic members took part in the
