The Cabinet under Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli on Tuesday 12/4/2022 approved a draft law criminalizing child marriage.

The bill is aimed at putting an end to this negative phenomenon, as children under 18 years are not psychologically, culturally, mentally and physically qualified to raise a family.

The draft law stipulates that any marriage contract for those who are under 18 years should not be certified by the marriage officer.

The bill states that children who get married or any person helping them to marry should be punished by imprisonment for a term of no less than one year, as well as a fine ranging between EGP 50,000 and EGP 200,000.

It also provides that any marriage officer who authorizes a contract for children under 18 years should be sacked, sentenced to a jail term of no less than six months and ordered to pay a fine of no less than EGP 20,000 and not more than EGP 50,000.

Source: State Information Service Egypt