Ukraine's Parliament Removes Proposal Allowing Marriage at Age 14

Proposal for Underage Marriage Withdrawn

According to Главком: Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has voted to remove a controversial clause from a draft law that would have permitted 14-year-olds to marry in cases of pregnancy or childbirth. The Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, stated that a working group considered public opinion on the proposal. The new version of the draft law will contain no provisions that could threaten other important aspects of the legal code.

Context and Debate

The original proposal had considered allowing marriage from the age of 14 only by court decision and with consideration for the 'best interests of the child.' Stefanchuk emphasized the importance of supporting newborn children who might otherwise be left without parents:

“So that a newborn child, regardless of circumstances they did not create, has a chance to grow up in a full, loving family, and not be left without a father or mother. The legal arguments here are unequivocal,” - Ruslan Stefanchuk.

It is worth noting that a similar provision allowing marriage at 14 existed in Ukraine's Family Code from 2004 until 2012. At that time, Article 23 permitted individuals of that age to marry by court order if it served their interests. However, in 2012, on the initiative of then-President Viktor Yanukovych, this provision was removed. The question of legalizing marriage from age 14 resurfaced in the context of a new draft law from the Verkhovna Rada, the Civil Code of Ukraine (Code of Private Law) No. 14394. This debate reflects ongoing tensions between traditional practices, child protection, and legal modernization in post-Soviet societies.

According to MP Ihor Fris, the possibility of marriage for individuals who have reached 14 could have been realized upon application and by court decision if it was found to be in their interests. However, following the Verkhovna Rada's decision, this possibility remains open for further discussion.

The parliament's decision to remove this norm demonstrates the legislature's responsiveness to public sentiment and the need to protect children's rights. The discussion of underage marriage is a significant element of the contemporary debate on youth rights and their protection in society. Continued debate on this issue may influence future legislative initiatives and family law policy in Ukraine.