Legislative Changes Planned to Raise the Legal Marriage Age

The Permanent Commission on Human Rights Protection and Public Affairs of the National Assembly is conducting parliamentary hearings on the topic of "Legislative Reforms to Raise the Legal Marriage Age in the Context of Protecting Fundamental Human Rights." Representatives from regional government bodies and national minorities, including the Yezidi community, are present at the hearings.

Rustum Bakoyan, a member of the NA 'Civil Contract' faction, stated that he plans to initiate the legislative process to raise the legal marriage age, aiming to implement these legislative reforms in 2024. "As the representative of the Yezidi community in Parliament, I receive numerous reports, especially regarding early marriages within the Yezidi community, but I must note that this is a widespread issue, with cases of early marriages also occurring among Armenians," said Bakoyan.

He recalled that under current legislation, the legal marriage age in Armenia is 18; an individual can marry at 17 with the consent of parents or guardians, and can marry at 16 if they have parental consent and their partner is at least 18 years old.

"I emphasize the importance of educating children from a young age about the idea that early marriages can have negative consequences for their future lives and destinies. Marriages among minors create various problems from health, educational, and social perspectives. Early childbirth can lead to negative outcomes for underage mothers, and the mortality rate of children born from early marriages is significantly higher. I also highlight the elevation of the marriage age as crucial in overcoming challenges faced by our Yezidi community in preserving its identity. Our community has several customs that harm us, creating complexes for our community," Bakoyan noted.