Colombia votes to ban child marriage

(CLO) The Colombian Congress has voted to pass a law banning children from getting married, with or without parental consent.

The proposal aims to raise the minimum age for marriage to 18, while protecting the rights and providing opportunities for minors. However, to become law, the proposal still needs the signature of President Gustavo Petro.

A view of a meeting of the Colombian Congress. Photo: Reuters

Currently, Colombia's civil law still allows people aged 14 and over to marry, with parental consent.

The proposed law reform, which will be presented in 2023 in Colombia, carries the slogan “They are daughters, not wives” and aims to prevent girls from being forced into marriage. The proposal aims to protect girls’ rights, prevent them from suffering violence and other forms of abuse, and ensure they do not miss out on education and development opportunities.

"Minors are not sex objects, they are girls," said Congresswoman Clara López Obregón, one of the bill's strongest supporters, after the proposal passed.

Child marriage remains a widespread problem worldwide , affecting about 12 million girls each year, according to UNICEF, the United Nations' agency for children.

However, according to statistics from UNICEF, the rate of child marriage has been decreasing globally in recent years. Specifically, ten years ago, one in four young women aged 20 to 24 were married as children, but now that number has dropped to one in five.

According to UNICEF, in Latin America, poverty is one of the main factors leading to teenage marriage.

Ha Trang (according to CNN)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/colombia-bo-phieu-thong-qua-luat-cam-tre-em-ket-hon-post321561.html