Plan International organization is again highlighting the problem of forced childhood marriages, a regular practice in the Dominican Republic. As reported, the DR and Nicaragua lead in the number of married girls and teenagers in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to a study presented on 21 March 2017, in Santo Domingo by the organization.
The study is based on findings of the Enhogar 2014 survey that found that 37% of Dominican women were married before age 18. In addition, one in every five females aged 15-19 is married or living with a man who is at least 10 years older.
The figures are part of the Plan International “Handcuffed Women” study that looks into forced childhood marriage in the provinces of Azua, Barahona, Pedernales, Elias Piña and San Juan. The study’s author, Jeanette Tineo, said that for many parents forced marriages are the result of intra-family violence, the expectation of emancipation and many times the family sees this as a way of getting out of poverty.
The study says that forced marriages are linked to pregnancy in teens. According to the study, 70% of the girls or teens interviewed who were married to adult men were pregnant at the time they established their unions.
Plan International proposes that the Dominican Congress that is revising the Civil Code raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 for both sexes, without exception.
According to current law in the Dominican Republic, males younger than 16, and females younger than 15, may not marry. But a judge – for various reasons – has the power to waive that requirement.
The Dominican state “must honor the international commitments it has signed with regard to protecting children, and put an end to impunity for predators who seek protection in marriage. The government must provide opportunities to girls to live a dignified life, free from this type of coercion.” said Plan International DR.
Read more:
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2017/03/22/entre-paises-con-mas-matrimonios-infantiles
https://plan-international.org/dominican-republic
23 March 2017
