The Colombian parliament on Wednesday adopted a law banning the marriage of minors under 18, in one of the South American countries so far the most lax on the matter.
“The plenary assembly approves the bill, we are all happy,” exclaimed Senate President Efraín Cepeda, a member of the Conservative Party, after the vote.
To come into force, however, the law must still be promulgated by left-wing President Gustavo Petro who, when he was in parliament, rejected a similar initiative.
“Congress has taken a very important measure to protect little girls and adolescents (…) it will no longer be possible to marry minors,” Diana Moreno, spokesperson for the Congress, told AFP. NGO Profamilia.
114 marriages involving minors celebrated in Colombia in 2023
Colombia currently allows marriages from the age of 14, subject to the consent of the parents of the minor. In the rest of South America, the minimum age for marriage is between 16 and 18 years old. Argentina allows marriage at age 14 with the approval of a judge.
According to official figures, 114 marriages involving minors were celebrated in Colombia in 2023. In most cases, this type of union takes place in poor communities between an older man and a minor girl, which perpetuates “the cycles or traps of poverty”, “dropping out of school” and limiting the “autonomy and independence” of women, denounces a Unicef report.
“The fact that the Senate of the Republic passed (the law) after nine attempts since 2007 is truly impressive,” rejoiced Sandra Ramirez, lawyer for the NGO Equality Now, which encouraged the legislative process. “The most worrying aspect is the implementation of the law among indigenous and African-descended girls and adolescents in rural communities. This is where the work begins.”
