Child brides now living in Europe as Government urged to prepare a response

The Government has been urged to prepare a response to so-called child brides after an estimated 100 such marriages were identified in Norway and Sweden.

A girls’ rights organisation claims there are “thousands of child brides living with their ‘husbands’” among the 1.3m refugees in Europe.

Plan International Ireland said it is “unequivocal” in its support for those fleeing persecution and danger, but added that the rights of girls not to be forced into marriage had to be protected.

The organisation said 100 child brides have been identified in Norway and Sweden in recent months.

It said that many of the 1.3m refugees “who now call Europe home” have been left broke financially following the expensive journey from their homelands. It said that some parents were being forced between early marriages for their daughters or running out of money to feed, clothe, and shelter their families.

“The 100 child brides identified to date is potentially only the tip of an iceberg,” said PIL chief executive David Dalton.

“In reality, with 442,000 children arriving in Europe in the past 12 months, there are thousands of child brides living with their ‘husbands’ across the continent.”

He said that certain EU governments, including Norway and Sweden, had issued directives that couples, involving underage girls, should be separated.

Mr Dalton said that the Irish Government “must be ready to intervene” if child marriages are identified here.

“Nothing is more important to us than protecting the rights of children to live healthy, happy, and safe lives,” he said.

“While Plan International Ireland is unequivocal in its support of those fleeing persecution and danger, the rights of girls to not be forced into an unequal and dangerous marriage must be protected.”

Amnesty International says child marriage — defined as where an individual marries before the age of 18 — impacts “15m girls each year”, or 41,000 girls every day in lower-income countries.