The Plenary of the Chamber of Deputies approved this Wednesday the Bill 092/2024-2025, which prohibits Forced and Early Childhood Marriages and Unions (MUIFTs) in Bolivia. The norm modifies Law N° 603, Code of Families and Family Process and will be sent to the Executive Branch for its enactment.
With this approval, all exceptions that allowed marital or free unions of minors under 18 years of age with parental consent are eliminated, consolidating a legal framework that seeks to guarantee the comprehensive protection and full development of children and adolescents.
The initiative was promoted by Senator Virginia Velasco and subsequently worked on in the Human Rights Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, under the presidency of Congresswoman Betty Yañiquez. The process was accompanied by various civil society organizations, including Ipas Bolivia and the Human Rights Community, which provided technical assistance, evidence and awareness-raising activities.
According to data from the Ministry of Health and Sports, between 2020 and 2023, 147,876 pregnancies in girls and adolescents were registered, an average of 102 cases per day. In addition, between 2010 and 2022, more than 11,000 child marriages and unions were documented in Bolivia, reflecting the magnitude of the problem.
“This is a day of hope for children and adolescents in Bolivia. We are deeply grateful to the Human Rights Commission, to the legislators, and to all the organizations that accompanied us on this journey. With this law, we are taking a firm step toward building a country where girls can live free of violence, complete their education and dream of a dignified future,” said Malena Morales, director of Ipas Bolivia.
For her part, the representative of the Human Rights Community, Janeth Nogales, emphasized that “This is a great step forward, the result of three years of sustained work. It is wonderful that, with this law, girls can decide about their bodies and their lives… it is a milestone in the fight for the rights of women, girls and adolescents, and brings us closer to a fairer country free of violence. “.
On this path, more than 100 social organizations from all over the country joined in with their support, helping to make the problem visible and reinforce the demand for change. This step shows that when legislators, civil society and institutions work together, real progress can be made towards the elimination of child marriages and unions in Bolivia.
With the approval by the Chamber of Deputies, the law now goes to the President for its enactment and, after that, to its publication in the Official Gazette, at which time it will become effective.