This April 1, 2026, the Municipal Council of Cobija, capital of the department of Pando, unanimously approved the bill that declares September as the “Month of Awareness and Prevention of Early and Forced Child Marriages and Unions (MUITF)”.
The initiative was promoted with the support of Ipas Bolivia and led by Councilwoman Giovanna Castedo, consolidating a key advance in the protection of the rights of children and adolescents in the municipality.
Among the main provisions of the regulation, which will be enacted in the next few days by the municipal executive, the following stand out:
- The institutionalization of September as a month dedicated to awareness and prevention of MUITF in Cobija.
- It is based on the Political Constitution of the State, international treaties and Law No. 1639 (2025), which prohibits marriage and unions before the age of 18.
- Recognition of the impacts of MUITFs, such as teenage pregnancies, violence, school dropouts and reproduction of poverty cycles.
- The creation of an Annual Awareness Program, with information campaigns, educational workshops and actions to promote rights.
- The implementation of a Single Municipal Route of attention and denunciation, under the responsibility of the Childhood and Adolescence Ombudsman’s Office.
- The creation of a Municipal Inter-institutional Prevention Board, with the participation of public institutions and social organizations.
- Budget allocation and regulation of the law within a maximum period of 30 days.
The regulation seeks to align municipal policies with national and international standards, strengthening the prevention of harmful practices and guaranteeing the rights of children and adolescents.
The organizations promoting the project highlighted the consensus reached in the Municipal Council as a sign of institutional commitment to the protection, welfare and comprehensive development of children and adolescents.
