UNICEF: Not always right to split a child marriage

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In some cases it may be best for the child to remain in a marriage after they have come to this country, says UNICEF Norway.

– In circumstances where those who are married are not too young, relatively peers, in a totally voluntary and fairly equal relationship and maybe have a child, it may in some cases be in the child’s best interests that we do not strictly follow the law,  Merete Agerbak-Jensen UNICEF Norway says to the local newspaper Vart Land. At the same time she emphasizes that child marriage in the first place is completely unacceptable.

At least 60 minors who were married with an adult sought asylum in Norway last year.

– Too many children marriages are in fact forced marriage based on exploitation, says Agerbak-Jensen.

UNICEF told the newspaper that they look seriously at the increase in the number of married minors who arrive in the country and that they fear this is just the beginning.

Save the Children association exclude the possibility of allowing any child marriages to continue in Norway.To  the newspaper  Line Hegna says that there is no doubt that Norwegian authorities must remove girls under 18 years from their marriages with older men.

– The most important thing is to ensure that sexual abuse and other illegal and harmful sexual activity ceases, she says
Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today