The Colombian Parliament approved on Wednesday, November 13, a law that prohibits the marriage of minors under 18 years of age, in one of the South American countries that until now has been most lax in this matter.
“The plenary session approves the bill, we are all happy”exclaimed the president of the Senate, Efraín Cepeda, a member of the Conservative Party, after the vote.
However, for the law to come into force it must still be promulgated by the leftist president, Gustavo Petro, who, when he was in Parliament, rejected a similar initiative.
“Congress took a very important step to protect girls and adolescents (…), “It will no longer be possible to marry minors.”Diana Moreno, spokesperson for the NGO Profamilia, told Agence France-Presse.
Colombia currently allows marriage from the age of 14, subject to the consent of the minor’s parents.
“Nine attempts since 2007”
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, in Colombia in 2023, 114 marriages were celebrated between minors. In most cases, this type of union occurs in poor communities between an older man and an underage girl, which perpetuates “the cycles or traps of poverty”, “leaving school” and limit “autonomy and independence” women, denounces a Unicef report.
“The fact that the Senate of the Republic has voted [la loi] after nine attempts since 2007 it is really impressive”Sandra Ramírez, a lawyer from the NGO Igualdad Ahora, who encouraged the legislative process, was delighted.
“The most worrying thing is the implementation of the law among indigenous and Afro-descendant girls and adolescents from rural communities. This is where the work begins.”Sandra Ramírez stressed.
