Overview

• Colombian lawmakers have passed a bill to outlaw child marriage, ending a 137-year-old legal loophole that allowed minors to marry with parental consent.
• The bill, which still requires the president's signature, aims to protect minors from violence and exploitation, promoting their rights and development opportunities.
• Advocacy groups campaigned for 17 years to pass the legislation, which faced significant opposition due to cultural traditions and parental rights.
• Colombia joins 12 other Latin American and Caribbean countries in banning child marriage, aligning with international standards for children's rights.
• Child marriage in Colombia is linked to poverty, with rates significantly higher among girls, particularly in rural and Indigenous communities.