Article 16 concerns marriage and family issues. It merely states:
- Men and women of legal age have the right to marry and to found a family without any limitation due to race, nationality, or religion.
- Marriage shall be entered into only with full and free consent of the intending spouses.
- Family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and as such is entitled to protection by society and the State.
In other words, it implies that under Article 16, each individual has a right to choose a partner and get married and such a choice must be free from discrimination that flows from who they are or where they come from. It simply means that the consents of both parties must be entered without coercion or any form of compulsion.
At the same time, the article calls attention to the value of family in society. It is regarded as the primary unit worthy of support and protection. This right is essential for human lives to be built together and to raise families that contribute to a larger community and society.
Written by: Nabeela Mohiud-din