In an accelerated procedure, the Dutch Senate has passed a law against marriages with young girls. State Secretary Dijkhoff earlier said he can do little for girls aged 15, 16 and 17 who are taken to the Netherlands by asylum seekers and tell officials they married out of free will. In the Netherlands, marriages with the youngest partner aged 15 and up are still acknowledged if the marriage was legally performed in the country of origin. This law raises the age limit to 18, thereby making it easier to nullify a marriage that was performed under force.