Guatemala legal gap leaves minors vulnerable after consent age reform veto

Guatemala faces a legal crisis regarding the age of consent, leaving thousands of girls vulnerable to sexual violence and forced pregnancy. A legislative gap established in 2009 allows for sexual encounters with 14-year-olds to be categorized as ‘consented relationships’ rather than crimes, provided there is no physical force or explicit refusal.

While the Guatemalan Congress approved a reform in April to raise the age of consent from 14 to 18, the measure was vetoed by President Bernardo Arévalo. The President argued the decree was imperfect and could potentially criminalize consensual relationships between peers. The matter currently remains unresolved as the Constitutional Court has yet to issue a ruling.