Child marriage and early unions persist in Latin America

On the International Day of the Girl Child, reports highlight the persistent issue of child marriage and early unions, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean. Data from the United Nations and CEPAL indicate that over 12 million girls globally marry before age 18 annually, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for 31% of cases. Notably, Latin America and the Caribbean is the only region where child marriage and early unions have not declined in the last 25 years.

In Paraguay, the Coordinator for the Rights of Children and Adolescents (Cdia) reported that 6,111 adolescents aged 15 to 17 were in early unions in 2025, according to National Institute of Statistics (INE) data. Of these, 83% were women. Cdia is calling for the removal of legal exceptions in Law 5419/2015 that allow 16 and 17-year-olds to marry with parental consent.

The practice significantly impacts education and economic opportunities. Globally, 61% of married girls aged 10 to 17 are neither in school nor engaged in paid work.