A newly registered draft of Ukraine’s Civil Code has triggered widespread debate across social media and international headlines, with claims circulating that the country plans to allow marriage from the age of 14. The proposal, part of a major overhaul of private and family law, would permit marriage at 14 only under very narrow circumstances—specifically when a girl is pregnant or has given birth—while maintaining the general marriage age at 18. As the bill remains in its early stages, experts and rights groups are weighing in on its implications for child protection, gender equality, and Ukraine’s EU integration path.
The draft bill, officially registered as No. 14394 on January 22, 2026, was initiated by Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament). Titled the “Civil Code of Ukraine (Code of Private Law),” the document seeks to modernize and consolidate civil legislation, including by incorporating the existing Family Code into a single framework. Among the changes is an update to the rules governing marriage age, outlined in proposed Article 1478 (Chapter 94, “Right to Marriage”).
Under current Ukrainian law, as set out in the Family Code of 2002 (amended in 2012), the standard marriage age is 18 for both men and women. Courts may grant permission for marriage starting at age 16 if it serves the minor’s best interests—typically in cases of pregnancy to ensure legal protections for the child and mother, such as paternity recognition, inheritance rights, and family support obligations.
The new draft would introduce an additional exception: marriage from age 14 would be possible only in exceptional cases involving pregnancy or childbirth by the girl, and even then, it would require a court decision. For individuals aged 16 and older, the existing court-approval process would continue unchanged. The general age of 18 remains the default, with no broad lowering of the threshold.
Supporters of the provision argue it addresses real-life situations where teenage pregnancies occur, particularly in vulnerable or conflict-affected regions amid the ongoing war. By allowing legal marriage in these rare scenarios, the law could provide young mothers and their children with stronger legal safeguards, including social benefits and parental responsibilities. The Ministry of Justice has emphasized that this remains a legislative initiative only, still requiring extensive parliamentary debate, committee reviews, public consultations, and multiple readings before it could become law.
However, the proposal has faced immediate criticism from child rights advocates, women’s organizations, and human rights monitors. Groups argue that lowering the threshold—even conditionally—risks normalizing early marriages and exposing girls to greater vulnerability in a society where enforcement of “best interests” standards can be inconsistent. International bodies like the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have long recommended raising minimum marriage ages globally to reduce health risks, educational disruption, and gender inequality associated with adolescent unions. In Ukraine, child marriage remains uncommon (affecting roughly 9% of girls before 18, often in marginalized communities), but critics fear the change could send a regressive signal.
The marriage age clause has also been overshadowed by other controversial aspects of the draft, particularly its definitions of family and partnerships. Human rights organizations, including ILGA-Europe and Ukraine’s ZMINA Human Rights Center, warn that the bill excludes same-sex unions from “de facto family” recognition, potentially annuls existing court recognitions of same-sex families, and creates legal uncertainty for transgender individuals (including voiding marriages involving gender reassignment). These elements, they say, conflict with Ukraine’s EU accession obligations under Chapter 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights), the European Convention on Human Rights, and the Copenhagen criteria. The draft’s failure to advance stalled civil partnership bills for same-sex couples further heightens concerns about backsliding on equality.
Social media amplification has added fuel to the fire. Viral posts have exaggerated the proposal, claiming Ukraine is broadly “allowing marriage at 14” or linking it to unrelated global scandals without evidence. Fact-checkers and legal experts have clarified that the change is narrow, conditional, and not yet enacted—far from a blanket policy shift.
As of February 4, 2026, Bill No. 14394 has not advanced beyond registration. It faces a lengthy legislative journey, during which amendments are likely. Public and international pressure could lead to revisions, especially given Ukraine’s strategic priority of aligning laws with EU standards amid its candidacy process.
The debate underscores broader tensions in Ukraine’s legal reforms: balancing practical responses to social realities with robust protections for minors and vulnerable groups. Whether the marriage age provision survives scrutiny will depend on upcoming parliamentary discussions and civil society input. For now, the proposal remains exactly that—a draft open to change.
