Forced Marriages in Belgium Triple Over Three Years, Government Reports

According to the figures of the federal authorities presented by the Minister of the Interior, Pieter De Crem, to Parliament, the trend of forced marriages is steadily increasing with 10 established facts in 2015, 15 in 2016, 21 in 2017 and 27 in 2018.

The same source reports that in 2017, three cases of forced cohabitation were observed, compared to one in 2016. It also includes under this category child marriages, although their exact number is not explicitly mentioned, it is specified.

According to Article 146 of the Civil Code, a marriage is null and void when it does not have the consent of each of the two parties, or when this consent has been obtained under threat or violence. In other words, one must be of legal age to marry, since forced marriages and civil unions are punishable.