(Brussels Times) Belgian police have been able to register an increasing trend of forced marriages in Belgium.
In 2015, 10 forced marriages were officially recorded, in 2016, the number increased to 15, in 2017 up to 21 and last year, police registered 27 such cases, Interior Minister [Pieter] De Crem reported to Le Soir.
Gynaecologist[s] also report that young Belgian women have to ask for a certificate of virginity, usually before marriage.
In 2017, three cases of forced legal cohabitation were noted, compared to only one in 2016, according to authority figures. The exact number of child marriages is not explicitly mentioned.
