Liberian bill would allow wedding costs to be reclaimed after engagement ends
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on The Liberian Investigator
A bill introduced in Liberia’s House of Representatives would allow certain wedding expenses to be reclaimed after an engagement ends, without allowing anyone to be forced to marry. It also sets a time limit for engagements and has been referred to three committees, The Liberian Investigator reports.
A bill introduced in Liberia’s House of Representatives would allow certain expenses incurred for a wedding to be reclaimed after an engagement ends. The bill, introduced by Anthony F. Williams, representative for Maryland County’s second district, also provides for an engagement to end if the marriage does not take place, The Liberian Investigator reports.
The bill, entitled the “Act Regulating Engagements and Protecting the Rights of Prospective Spouses”, would allow couples to extend or renew their engagement period for up to two years, on no more than two occasions. When the second extension expires, the engagement would end, while contractual obligations connected to the relationship could remain in force.
The bill states that no one can be forced to marry and protects each party’s right to withdraw consent. It also proposes voluntary registration of engagements and provides for the repayment of gifts and expenses to be subject to principles of fairness and accountability, without infringing individual freedoms or gender equality.
The House read the bill in plenary and then referred it to three committees: the Judiciary Committee, which will lead its review, as well as the committees on Gender, Child Protection and Social Development, and on Internal Affairs and Local Government. The bill is intended, among other things, to address disputes over expenses, false representations and exploitation during wedding preparations.
