“Forced marriages and those between adolescents represent grave and recurrent violations of the fundamental principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and it is scandalous that they be justified by invoking respect for the culture and tradition of certain communities”. That’s the warning made in a recent report of the Council of Europe that appeals to governments to combat marriages imposed by force and between minors. It also urges them to crack down on “unconsummated (i.e. fake) marriages” for socio-economic purposes. The phenomenon in question, constantly on the increase in Europe due to the growing influx of immigrants especially from the Balkans, Asia and Africa, in the view of the Council of Europe, “directly concerns the policies of immigration and social cohesion”. The report also invites governments to place obstacles in the way of the recognition of such marriages, and to facilitate their annulment, while favouring at the same time a “change of mentality” through information, education and awareness-raising of the young and their families. ———————————————————————————————————– Sir Europa (English) N.ro assoluto : 1421 N.ro relativo : 70 Data pubblicazione : 12/10/2005
