Germana Carillo Child marriage banned in Colombia: after years of failed attempts, Congress unanimously approved a law banning early unions, which violate the rights and development of minors
@Jennifer Pedraza Sandoval/X
After nine attempts, the Colombian Congress has unanimously approved a bill that bans child marriage—defined as unions between an adult and a person under 18 years old, or between minors themselves.
With the slogan “They are girls, not wives”, Senator Clara López, along with independent House representatives Jennifer Pedraza and Alexandra Vásquez, spearheaded the initiative. The bill passed its final debate in the Senate.
The alarming prevalence of child marriage in Colombia
A 2022 UNICEF report revealed that Colombia ranks 20th globally for the number of girls married or in a union before age 15 and holds the 11th spot in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Until now, Colombian law allowed children as young as 15 to marry, based on a Civil Code article that dates back 137 years. According to UNICEF, 198 minors were married in Colombia in 2021 alone. Furthermore, estimates suggest that 73.4% of these girls are married to men at least 20 years older.
The social costs of early marriages
Senator María José Pizarro highlighted the devastating impact of child marriage: 70% of adolescent girls are confined to domestic labor, forcing them to abandon education and any aspirations for the future. This perpetuates a cycle of violence, inequality, and poverty, which also affects their children.
What changes with the new legislation?
The newly passed legislation (awaiting President Gustavo Petro’s signature to become law) eliminates the outdated 1887 Civil Code article. It also grants minors currently in marriages or domestic unions the right to annul these bonds.
