Mexican legislative response to forced cohabitation

In Chiapas, authorities arrested a Tsotsil man in San Andrés Larráinzar for the forced cohabitation of a 12-year-old girl. The suspect allegedly paid 25,000 pesos to the girl’s father to acquire her. The State Attorney General's Office noted that such crimes have historically been committed under the guise of indigenous customary laws, or ‘usos y costumbres’.

Following these developments, the Veracruz Congress approved a reform to the state's Penal Code to criminalize the forced cohabitation of minors. The new law imposes prison sentences of eight to 15 years and fines for anyone who coerces, induces, or manages an informal or customary union for individuals under 18 to live in a manner comparable to marriage. The measure is intended to protect the freedom, education, and health of children and adolescents.

In a subsequent legislative update, the Veracruz Congress unanimously approved the decree criminalizing these forced unions, reinforcing the penalties and fines intended to safeguard the rights of minors.

Expanding the legal framework to a national level, the Mexican Senate has now approved a decree to criminalize the forced cohabitation of minors. This federal measure mirrors previous efforts by imposing prison sentences of eight to 15 years for those who coerce or induce individuals under 18 into informal or customary unions that mimic marriage, aiming to protect the development and freedom of children and adolescents.