For many people in the West, marriage is often portrayed as the culmination of a romantic love story. Yet, in many parts of the world, marriage is still viewed as a union between families as much as between individuals. In these cultures, parents, relatives, community elders, or professional matchmakers may play an active role in helping people find a suitable spouse.
It's important to understand, however, that arranged marriage and forced marriage are not the same thing. In an arranged marriage, individuals involved retain the right to accept or reject the match. Forced marriage, however, occurs when one or both parties are pressured to marry without their consent and is widely condemned as a human rights violation.
So, in which places are arranged marriages still commonplace? Click on to find out.