Sweden’s government has vowed to introduce stronger punishments for child marriages and pledged to punish so-called honour crimes more severely.
The draft legislation also plans to enforce a travel ban on children deemed at risk of being taken abroad for marriage or genital mutilation.
The government plans to also bring in harsher measures against crimes where violence is committed by people claiming to defend the reputation of their family or community.
“We can never accept that children get married, that people are not allowed to choose who to marry, or that people are subjected to violence and oppression in the name of honour,” said justice and Migration Minister Morgan Johansson, speaking alongside Juno Blom, party secretary of the rival Liberals.
“Therefore, the government and the partnering parties with these measures want to further strengthen the protection against 'honour-related' crime."
The new law would make it punishable to persuade or allow a child to enter into a marriage or marriage-like relationship.
The crime, with a penalty of up to four years in jail, would not require unlawful coercion or exploitation for an offence to be committed.
The Swedish government said it accepted that it was difficult to protect children who left the country.
As such, it said a law was needed to stop children at risk of marriage or genital mutilation leaving the country. Breaching it would bring a sentence of up to two years.
“Children in Sweden should not be married and children should be protected from being taken out of the country. End of discussion,” Ms Blom said.
“The judicial system must put a stop to guardians and other adults restricting children and young people's right to free and safe lives. Children should know that there is protection and support."
