Bolivia advances toward eradicating child marriage

In a country where almost half of adolescents live in poverty and more than 11 per cent of adolescent girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are either mothers or pregnant, the challenge of guaranteeing a dignified adolescence free of violence becomes urgent. In this context, Bill No. 144, promoted by Deputy Bertha Acarapi, emerges as a comprehensive response to these structural problems. The proposal seeks to institutionalize the Comprehensive Stu…

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, April 25, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- On April 23, 2025, the Bolivian National Senate approved Bill No. 092-24, which proposes to eliminate the legal exceptions that currently allow marriage at the age of 16. If approved, the bill would establish 18 as the minimum age for marriage, with no exceptions. This approval represents an important step in the fight for the rights of girls and adolescents in Bolivia. However, t…

The regulation will be passed to the Chamber of Deputies for treatment and does not provide for criminal penalties for adolescents involved, but does establish legal consequences for public officials who register or legalize such links.