Marriage age may be raised from 14 to 16

The government is considering whether to increase the minimum age at which people can marry from 14 to 16 years, in line with United Nations guidelines, Health Minister Leire Pajín confirmed Wednesday.

A committee of experts working on a draft child-protection law is in charge of tackling the issue, though its conclusions have not yet been handed to the Ministry, Pajín revealed.

The minister said that the raise takes into account the fact that at 16 youngsters "can take decisions about their body in certain health provisions with a few considerations from their parents."

Spain's abortion law allows women aged 16 or 17 to decide alone whether to terminate a pregnancy, although they have to inform one of their parents and go with them to the clinic