Cambodian Women Banned From Marrying Poor, Elderly Foreigners

Well, that’s one way to cut down on child brides.

In an apparent attempt to crack down on the problem of mail-order faux-marriages, human trafficking, and the country’s general unsavory rep as a child-bride hub, the Cambodian government has now made it illegal to marry a foreign man over 50 or who earns under $30,960 a year. Apparently their 2008 ban on all foreign marriages didn’t really pan out; given the obvious loopholes this seems unlikely to stamp the practices out, either. But while younger and more affluent men can still shop the web for “Cambodian brides” , this will at least impose a few restrictions. If you happen to fall in love with someone over 50 or of more modest income, well, presumably they can’t control marriages that take place outside the country.