Under Eighteen Marriages Made Unlawful in Dominican Republic
While the entire world was busy glaring at the United States for their Capitol Attack, the Carribean country of the Dominican Republic was actually working towards making a positive change for not just their own country but hopefully other neighbouring countries via impact and influence. The Republican President of the country, Luis Abinader signed into the country’s Civil Code a new law that legally prohibits the marriage of persons under the age of 18 years old on Wednesday, January 6th, 2021. The Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic has finally approved the modifications made by the country’s Senate to the original bill, with the next step being to send the bill to the Executive Power so that it can be observed and/or enacted.
The Lower House had approved the law on a November 18th, 2020 session, but the Senate made some changes to articles 144 and 145. Article 144 was modified to establish: “The man or the woman may not marry under any circumstances before they have reached 18 years of age.” Meanwhile, Article 145 of the Dominican Civil Code, which placed age exemption granting powers within the Government, has been entirely repealed. Alongside the bill illegalizing child marriages, it has also created the Cabinet of Women, Adolescents and Girls under the Dominican Ministry of Women to fight against gender based inequality and violence.
UNICEF had recorded that the Dominican had one of the highest rates of child marriages amongst Latin American countries with over 30% of women between 20 to 24 having been informally married before they turned 18. While records show victims in both genders, advocates have noted that girls have been affected and abused more.
UNICEF representative in the Dominican, Rosa Elcarte pointed out that women and girls must be protected in a required cultural norm change: “Child marriage and early unions are seen as normal in society. It is driven by machismo that sees the role of a woman to be just a mother and wife.” She recognized that “ending early unions will require years of work to change cultural norms” but also suggested, “Girls need to have alternative offers that becoming a mother is not their only plan in life… They have to be given job opportunities.”
Credit: Acento.com.do
