Experts support toughening legislation on early marriage in Georgia

The main reasons for the spread of early marriages in Georgia are difficult social situation of families and poor awareness about human rights, experts believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that from January 2016 the Georgian legislation has been amended to prohibit marriages involving minors without permits of judicial bodies. Getting a permit is possible since 17 years of age, whereas earlier the minimum age for marriage was 16 years. For getting a permit for early marriage, there should be good reasons, such as pregnancy or childbirth.

Most early marriages registered in Georgia are violent: parents enter an agreement, or a ritual of bride abduction is performed, whose opinion about the groom is ignored, said Ekaterina Skhiladze, Head of the Department for Gender Equality at the Georgian Ombudsman's office, adding that since early marriages are not officially registered, it is impossible to establish the exact number of them.

"But, for example, in 2014, there were 659 registrations of marriages at the age of 16-18; and in 2015, the country had 1500 minor mothers," said Skhiladze.

According to Zaura Dargaly, representative of the Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality in the Kvemo Kartli Region, the girls, forced to marry at an early age, have to suspend their studies, which hinders their personal development.

Now, the public opinion is more critical on the issue of early marriage than before, said Christina Marabyan, a journalist from Akhalkalaki.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.