Families Across Borders | law, policy, news and views
Latin America also moving to permit same-sex marriage
In recent weeks, both Uruguay and Brazil have moved toward joining Argentina and Mexico and other nations in which same-sex marriage is possible. Uruguay enacted legislation in April; see Zack Ford, Uruguay Becomes 12th Country to Recognize Same-Sex Marriage (Think Progress, April 11, 2013). In Brazil, a ruling in May (which can still be appealed) held that notaries cannot refuse [...]
Preview 2013: Same-Sex Marriage in France and the UK
Legislation to extend full marriage rights to same-sex couples is on the political agenda in both France and the UK for 2013. See Harvey Morris, Gay Marriage Fight Intensifies in Britain and France, International Herald Tribune/NY Times, Dec. 12, 2012. In Britain, this would add an option in addition to civil partnerships, which became possible under legislation enacted [...]
“Free Will” and Forced Marriages in Pakistan, Afghanistan
Interesting piece in yesterday’s N.Y. Times by Meghan Davidson Ladly: “Love and Free Will Challenge Traditional Pakistani Family Ties” (NYT Sept. 5, 2012). Also on the subject of marriage, consent, and protection for young women, see the piece by Graham Bowley several weeks ago: “Wed and Trotured at 13, Afghan Girl Finds Rare Justice” (NY Times [...]
Cross-Border Issues for Same-Sex Couples: European Version
Excellent article in the New York Times on the situation facing same-sex couples in Europe. See Paul Geitner, On Gay Marriage, Europe Strains to Square 27 Interests (NY Times, July 25, 2012).
Religious Conversions for Marriage Considered in Pakistan
Controversy over several cases of Hindu women converting to Islam in order to marry Islamic men has reached the Pakistani Supreme Court, which resolved the cases by sequestering the women from their families and their husbands in a shelter for several weeks and then having a court registrar record their statements privately regarding their decisions to convert. [...]
Islamists and Moroccan Marriage Law
An article in the Washington Post discusses the controversy in Morocco sparked by the suicide last month of a teenager who was raped and then married off to the man who had raped her. The current law allows a rapist to avoid prosecution if he marries the vicitm.The story reports that although the current law sets the [...]
Forced Marriage in the U.S.
Thanks to Melissa Kucinski for circulating the link to this survey of forced marriage in immigrant communities in the U.S., carried out in 2011 by the Tahirih Justice Center.
New Issue: International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family
Online access to the August 2011 issue of the International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family is available here. Articles include: Normann Witzleb, Marriage as the ‘Last Frontier’? Same-Sex Relationship Recognition in Australia; Maria Eriksson, Contact, Shared Parenting, and Violence: Children as Witnesses of Domestic Violence in Sweden; Ali Reda Bariklou, The Wife’s Right [...]
New Rule of Succession for British Royal Family
The rules have changed for Britain’s royal family, with the unanimous approval by the Commonwealth countries of changes to the Bill of Rights 1688; the Coronation Oath Act 1688; the Act of Settlement 1701; and the Royal Marriages Act 1772. The new law places daughters and sons on an equal footing with respect to inheriting [...]
Polygamy Surfaces as an Issue in Libya
Repeal of a Quaddafi-era law regulating polygamy – by requiring a first wife’s consent before a man took additional wives –has surfaced along with a prohibition on charging interest as part of the new interim government’s plans for a return to a more strongly shariah-based legal system in Libya. See Richard Spencer, Libya’s liberation: interim [...]
