On Thursday 6 April, MEPs called on Bangladesh to amend the legislation adopted by the Bangladeshi parliament at the end of February 2017 which authorises child marriage in special circumstances such as rape or pregnancy without the consent of the adolescent being asked.
In a joint resolution from the EFDD, S&D, Greens/EFA, ECR, ALDE and EPP Groups on the theme of Bangladesh, including child marriage, adopted by MEPs, they call for the shortcomings in this legislation to be addressed and for child marriage to be forbidden in all circumstances. This legislation is a step backwards in Bangladesh's action to eradicate child marriage, the MEPs state. Bangladesh is currently the country in Asia with the highest rate of child marriage.
More generally, although the European Parliament recognises that Bangladesh has adopted several legislative measures to protect children over recent years, the MEPs say they are concerned at the insufficient or non-existent enforcement of these measures.
The Parliament calls on the Bangladeshi government to commit to reaching the sustainable development goals, especially ensuring gender equality and women's rights. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)