Milestone Change in Child Marriage Law

Colombia’s congress has voted to change a law that allows minors to get married.

“Ten years ago, one in four young women aged 20 to 24 was married as a child. Today that number has fallen to one in five,” says UNICEF.

As of now, children as young as 14 years of age can get married with parental consent in Colombia. The new proposal seeks to raise this minimum age to 18. Poverty across Latin America is the main factor leading girls to get married before reaching adulthood. Typically, however, young marriages may mean these girls miss out on education and career opportunities, thus exacerbating the cycle. Though the proposal still needs to be signed into law by Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, the campaign – entitled “they’re girls, not wives” – will most likely ensure fewer child marriages and continued education opportunities for young girls across Colombia.