Women could then be forced to marry against their will. It affects their dignity and may have negative impacts on the marital relationship and the well-being of the family. Yet many countries in the MENA region allow child marriage, meaning marriage before the age of 18 (c.f. The Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, in its general recommendation No. Besides, only a few countries in the MENA region have ratified the convention.