[Text on screen]: 51% of adults in England and Wales...are said to be married.

But what is the right to marriage?

Marriage has been a long-standing tradition for centuries.

The European Convention of Human Rights specifically protects our right to marriage through Article 12.

The Article states that: “men and women of marriageable age have the right to marry and to found a family…”

In England and Wales the minimum legal age for marriage, with parental consent, is 16.

For Scotland, the minimum age is 16, without consent.

And Northern Ireland requires a minimum age of 17 with consent.

But it wasn’t until recent years that this right was more inclusive of more people.

England and Wales leaglised same-sex marriage on 13th March 2014…thanks to the Marriage (Same Couples Act) 2013.

The same act allows transgender couples the right to marry, instead of entering a civil partnership.

However, 21 of the 50 countries across Europe still do not recognise some form of same-sex union.

Sadly, there are cases that violate the right to marriage.

Forced marriage occurs when an individual does not consent to marriage with another person.

It is defined on GOV.uk if someone faces emotional or physical pressure to marry...or lacks the ability to make a fully informed choice.

Thankfully a government initiative set up in 2005, the Forced Marriage Unit... which focuses on supporting victims and preventing these cases from happening.

The right to marriage is a basic human right that everyone deserves.

And thanks to recent laws, even more people can enjoy a loving marriage.

We need to protect that right, till death do us part.