Peru Raises Minimum Age for Marriage to Protect Minors from Forced Unions
Peru, a South American country, has taken a significant step towards eradicating child marriage by abolishing the controversial ‘constitutional constitution’ system. This system has been exploited to force minors, who have been victims of sexual violence, into marriage. The decision to amend the Civil Code to specifically prohibit marriage with minors was passed by the National Assembly of Peru in a plenary session held on the 2nd of [month] [year].
Introduced by Representative Luis Aragon Carreño of the Democratic Action Party and Representative Flor Pablo Medina of Bora Party, this bill aims to establish 18 as the legal age for marriage, aligning it with the age of majority under civil law. Notably, the bill also grants minors who are already married the right to request a marriage annulment without the involvement of a third party.
Previously, in 2007, the National Assembly of Peru had lowered the age for consensual sex from 17 to 14. Consequently, the legal age for marriage had been interpreted as 14 or older. This interpretation allowed young individuals in Peru, aged 14 and over, to marry if they had children or were pregnant, with the consent of their parents and approved by a court decision.
However, this practice of child marriage, which was believed to reflect indigenous customs, had been tragically abused. It had become a means to punish minor girls who had been victims of sexual violence by adult men. Additionally, many cases had emerged where underage girls, who had become pregnant through sexual abuse, were ‘forced’ into marriage. Consequently, human rights groups spearheaded calls to review the law, highlighting the alarming fact that a rapist could become a husband.
Representative Luis Aragon Carreño underlined the role of child marriage in exacerbating sexual violence and emphasized that its ban would protect the rights of girls. The passage of this bill was met with enthusiasm by Peru’s Ministry of Gender Equality, who hailed it as a ‘historic day.’
The final step in the legislative process now rests with President Dina Boluarte, who is expected to approve the amendment. Last month, the United Nations Population Fund released a report highlighting the severity of sexual violence against minors in Peru. The report revealed that up to 11 girls between the ages of 10 and 14 become pregnant every day in Peru, with four of them becoming mothers. The majority of these pregnancies are the result of sexual abuse.
Peru raises the age of marriage from 14 to 18
There is a lot of talk about abolishing child marriage… ‘Historical day’ Women’s Department
Enlarge photo In Peru, a country in South America, the ‘constitutional constitution’ system, which has been abused as a form of forced marriage on minors who have suffered sexual violence, will be abolished. [사진출처 = 연합뉴스]
In Peru, a country in South America, the ‘child marriage’ system, which has been abused as a form of forced marriage on minors who have suffered sexual violence, will be abolished.
The National Assembly of Peru held a plenary session on the night of the 2nd (local time) and passed a bill to amend the Civil Code which specifically prohibits marriage with minors.
The main point of this bill, introduced by Representative Luis Aragon Carreño of the Democratic Action Party and Representative Flor Pablo Medina of Bora Party in March and September, respectively, is to set the legal age for marriage at 18 , the age of majority under civil law.
This bill also states that even minors who are already married can request a marriage annulment if they wish without the intervention of a third party.
Previously, in 2007, the National Assembly of Peru lowered the age for consensual sex from 17 to 14.
For this reason, the legal age for marriage has been interpreted as 14 years or older. Therefore, in Peru, young people over the age of 14 can marry if they have children or if they are pregnant with parental consent and a court decision.
Although it is said to reflect the indigenous practice of child marriage, on the other hand, it has been abused as a means of punishment for sexual violence by adult men against minor girls. In addition, as there were quite a few cases of underage women who became pregnant through sexual abuse being ‘forced’ into marriage, loud voices called for a review of the law, led by human rights groups.
This is because “a rapist can become a husband.”
Representative Luis Aragon Carreño emphasized, “Child marriage clearly acts as an aggravation that promotes sexual violence,” and added, “To ban it means to guarantee the rights of our girls.” As this bill was passed, Peru’s Ministry of Gender Equality welcomed it, calling it a ‘historic day.’
The amendment only needed President Dina Boluarte, which pretty much ended the legislative process.
Last month, the United Nations Population Fund said in a report that the level of sexual violence against minors in Peru is serious, saying, “Every day in Peru, up to 11 girls between the ages of 10 and 14 are pregnant, with four of them become mothers,” and “many of them are the result of sexual abuse.” .
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