Strict Measures Against Child Marriage Enforcement in Colombia
In a landmark decision, Colombia has passed its ninth bill aimed at addressing child marriage, marking a significant step forward in the country's fight against this harmful practice. The bill's passage is a testament to the relentless efforts of Colombia's civil society, who have been advocating for the protection of women and girls.
The bill, which raises the minimum age for marriage to 18, is in line with global and regional legal efforts that are converging on setting and enforcing 18 as the minimum legal marriage age with no exceptions. This global consensus is reflected in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5, which aims to eliminate child marriage by 2030.
Key international legal instruments, such as the African Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Model Law, and recent reforms in countries like Kuwait, the U.S., the U.K., and Germany, all underscore a trend toward global legal standardization despite cultural differences.
However, Colombia still faces challenges in eradicating child marriage. Persistent cultural norms and poverty, internal displacement, and armed conflict all contribute to the perpetuation of early marriages, particularly in rural and indigenous communities. Efforts to reform national legislation to close loopholes allowing child marriage with parental or judicial consent have been ongoing but face political and social resistance.
Despite these challenges, the passage of this bill in Colombia is a step towards ensuring the rights and safety of young girls. Child marriage is a violation of human rights, with girls married before the age of 18 being at increased risk for safety, domestic violence, and sexual assault. Early pregnancies due to child marriage are also dangerous to a young girl's body and health, with childbirth being the leading cause of death among girls aged 15-19 in low-income countries.
As Colombia moves forward in its efforts to combat child marriage, it joins a growing number of countries committed to ending this harmful practice. The passage of this bill is a promising sign that the rights and safety of young girls in Colombia are being prioritized and protected.
- The new policy and legislation in Colombia, aimed at preventing child marriage, aligns with global developments in science and health-and-wellness, as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocate for setting and enforcing 18 as the minimum legal marriage age.
- Mental health and women's health are also significant considerations in the discussions surrounding child marriage, as girls married before the age of 18 are at a higher risk for domestic violence, sexual assault, and complications during childbirth.
- The rental of youth to older partners through child marriage is a serious issue in areas of development, especially in rural and indigenous communities, where cultural norms, poverty, internal displacement, and armed conflict often contribute to its persistent existence.
- In the realm of politics and policy-and-legislation, ongoing efforts in Colombia focus on closing loopholes that allow child marriage with parental or judicial consent, despite facing resistance from certain social and political sectors.
