The Justice Ministry is working on a draft law that would criminalize underage marriage by considering it a form of [redacted] trafficking, Al Ahram reports. The law would impose prison sentences and fines on all those found guilty of facilitating an underage marriage, including the legal officiant (ma’zoun) or lawyer responsible for filing the paperwork and the children’s parents. The National Council for Childhood and Motherhood and House Human Rights Committee head Margaret Azer had each announced back in August they were drafting similar legislation.

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