Major step forward for child protection in Colombia, as politicians ban child marriage – Global Issues

In November, following several failed attempts, politicians from all walks of life approved a bill to reform the law that has been in force since 1887, which shows a deep practice that violates the rights of children and young people: according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). ). one in five girls between the ages of 14 and 18 is in a union.

“This authorization happened because we gathered the consensus of all political parties, highlighted Senator Clara López. “It means not only prohibition but also a strong public policy that reflects the changing culture and raises public awareness of the great harm done to children and young people by marriages and unions”.

Promoting children’s rights

“We want to congratulate Colombia on the good news,” said Bibiana Aido Almagro, head of UN Women in Colombia.

“These practices seriously affect the rights to life, health, education, and integrity of women and girls and have a negative impact on their development.”

Andrea Tague Montaña, gender and development officer at UNICEF Colombia, agrees that the decision is a positive step.

“Child marriages and unions at a young age are understood as dangerous practices that not only lead to gender violence but also cause the victims, especially girls, to become poor,” he warns. “They reinforce racism and the idea that the best thing that can happen to them is to get married and have children”.

By entering into an unequal power relationship with older partners, explains Ms. Montaña, girls have few opportunities to decide if they want to have sex, how many children they want to have, or what kind of life they want to live.

“They get into situations where, in many cases, they start to fulfill the roles of older women. Child slavery, housework, and caregiving have almost become their daily activities,” added the UNICEF official.

“These are girls who stopped studying, lost their rights by entering the department of the elderly. It is important to urge the public to stop normalizing unions too soon; this is a violation of rights. Girls don’t stop being girls because they live with a man”.

This bill also establishes measures to strengthen the national public policy on children and young people, including measures to restore the rights of children and young people affected by under-age marriages and unions, with special emphasis on remote rural areas – to ensure that indigenous people and other vulnerable communities can. participate.

The new law comes into effect when it is signed by President Gustavo Petro.