He Senate approved this Wednesday in the last debate a project that eliminates child marriage and early unionswhich will become law once it is sanctioned by the President Gustavo Petro.
To the initiative, which was presented for the ninth time before the Legislature and which is titled ‘They are girls, not wives’all that remains is to reconcile it with the text approved in the House of Representatives before moving on to presidential sanction.
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The bill, which sets a precedent in the defense of the rights of minors and women in the country, who for years have been victims of this form of violence, was presented by the House representatives Alexandra Vásquez and Jennifer Pedrazawith a positive presentation from the Senator Clara López.
The bill was proposed by Representatives Alexandra Vásquez and Jennifer Pedraza.
The approved initiative “eliminates from the Civil Code the permission for boys and girls over 14 years of age to marry with parental consent“said Vásquez, from the ruling coalition Historical Pact.
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The congresswoman also highlighted that “has a preventive and pedagogical approach with the creation of the national program of comprehensive care for life projects for children and adolescents” through the establishment of “public policies thinking about their life projects“.
“I celebrate the support of the Senate for the project ‘They are girls, not wives’, this law is crucial to protect the rights of girls and adolescents, guarantee their well-being and promote their full development“Vásquez concluded.
Congress of the Republic.
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For her part, Senator López, also from the Historical Pact, thanked the Senate plenary “such a rich discussion that we have ended with an approval by acclamation“.
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“Colombia leaves the shameful list of countries that allow child marriage. Prohibition of child marriage and early unions approved“, representative Jennifer Pedraza, of the party, celebrated on the social network Dignity and Commitment.
The country ranks 20th in the world in unions of girls and adolescents before the age of 15according to a 2022 Unicef report.
Child marriage prohibition law
Likewise, It is in 11th place worldwide in unions of girls and adolescents before the age of 18according to the aforementioned Unicef report, titled ‘Analysis of the situation of child marriages and early unions in Colombia’.
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The case of indigenous girls is the most worrying because around a third of them are married before reaching the age of majority to men who are double or triple their agewhich leads to serious consequences, such as sexual violence, early pregnancies and school dropouts.
Currently, despite the fact that Colombia has signed and ratified international legal instruments that prohibit child marriage, such as Inter-American Convention to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate Violence against Womenthe Civil Code allows adolescents from the age of 14 to get married if their parents or legal guardians consent.
EFE
