Abstract

In Latin America and the Caribbean, 1 in 4 girls is forced to marry before they turn 18. Despite global progress, this practice persists. Over the past 25 years, child marriage rates in this region have remained at 25 percent. Unlike Asia and Africa, which have seen significant declines in child marriage rates, this region has failed to make progress. The stagnation stems from deeply ingrained cultural norms rooted in African and South Asian traditions, as well as contemporary gender inequality, economic deprivation, and limited access to education. The consequences are devastating, trapping girls in early pregnancy and cycles of poverty and violence. Immediate and decisive action is required to dismantle these practices and protect future generations.

Introduction

The roots of child marriage in these regions trace back to traditions brought by enslaved Africans and indentured South Asians. These traditions, interwoven with poverty and gender inequality, continue to drive the practice today. As of 2023, approximately 20-30 percent of the population in the Latin American and Caribbean region are of African descent, and a significant Indo-descendant population exists across several countries.

Despite global progress in reducing child marriage, the region remains an outlier. UNICEF projects that by 2030, the Latin American and Caribbean region will have the second-highest rates of child marriage in the world. Between 2015 and 2023, 21 percent of women in the region aged 20-24 were married before they reached the age of 15. In poorer countries like Honduras and Nicaragua, child marriage rates remain high, with 10 percent of girls in Nicaragua and 9 percent in Honduras marrying before the age of 15. These statistics highlight how poverty and gender inequality, when combined with entrenched cultural legacies, shape child marriage. Understanding these historical and socio-economic realities is crucial for effective interventions.

Issues

One of the obstacles in addressing child marriage in Latin America and the Caribbean is the overwhelming focus on girls, with little attention to boys’ and men’s roles in perpetuating these practices. Patriarchal norms, some of which date back to African slave societies, have contributed to the practice of child marriage as a perceived means of economic stability, family honor and gender legacies. For example, girls as young as 14 are regularly married off to older men under the guise of religious or cultural traditions.

Additionally, there is a critical lack of awareness and implementation of culturally appropriate educational policies that account for the specific traits of Afro-descendant cultures. These patriarchal systems, reinforced by colonial legacies and economic challenges, allow child marriage to persist as a solution to financial insecurity. As a result, early unions have become normalized, and UNICEF acknowledges the persistence of harmful practices rooted in cultural traditions. Poverty, lack of education and gender inequality remain the primary drivers of child marriage in the region.

In contrast, India and Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in wealthier regions, have made significant strides in reducing child marriage through education and legal reforms. For instance, programs like India’s Apni Beti Apna Dhan program have successfully delayed marriage and increased education attainment. However, Latin America and the Caribbean struggle with persistent child marriage rates, especially in poorer communities. Poverty plays a major role in why Afro- and Indo-descendent girls enter into early sexual relations with men.

The adolescent fertility rate, with 60 births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19, underscores how child marriage leads directly to early pregnancy, limiting access to education and economic opportunities. Additionally, these young brides are routinely exposed to intimate partner violence, with 18 percent of girls aged 15-19 reporting abuse from their partners. This figure likely underestimates the true scale of violence due to underreporting influenced by Afro and Indo cultural norms.

Shockingly, in 2024, girls as young as 10 are still at risk of violence, with 70 percent of children aged 1-14 in the region having already experienced it. This is not just a private matter; it is a societal crisis, as demonstrated by the fact that the five countries with the highest rates of child homicides are all in Latin America and the Caribbean. Cultural resistance to change, rooted in historical practice, persists in the region’s most marginalized communities.

Without confronting cultural norms, such as sexism, misogyny, and religious practices, efforts to control these rates will continue to fail. For instance, in Guyana, the high suicide rates among Indo-descendent youth, especially women, reflect the extreme societal pressures they endure.

If current trends continue, the region is expected to have the second-highest rate of child marriage by 2030. While India has made improvements, particularly in wealthier households, and Africa has seen progress in its wealthier Sub-Saharan regions, Latin America and the Caribbean continue to see child marriages predominantly in poorer communities. History shows that cultural shifts are possible when paired with education and strong legal frameworks, as seen in India and parts of Africa.

Recommendations

Decisive action is needed to reduce child marriage rates in Latin America and the Caribbean. Although many countries have set the minimum legal age for marriage at 18, exceptions remain. No child should be forced into marriage without full autonomy, and parental consent alone should never be sufficient. Mandating religious consent forms that require the child’s explicit consent, along with government oversight, should be necessary to ensure compliance with age of consent laws.

Governments must require religious authorities not just to advise, but to actively advocate for change. These leaders have the power to influence community norms, and through training they can be educated on the importance of promoting marriage practices that protect children rather than exploit them. These campaigns must emphasize the legal consequences of violating child marriage laws and the societal cost of allowing these practices to continue. Additionally, international organizations must also exert pressure on regional governments to ensure they enforce child marriage legislation effectively.

To complement these efforts, governments must introduce more financial incentives for girls to remain unmarried until they turn 18. Passing bills that provide financial support, such as checks for higher education, will encourage girls to pursue their education and delay marriage. Moreover, survivors of child marriage must also be supported through robust legal, healthcare, and educational services, ensuring they have real opportunities to rebuild their lives. This is not optional. This is a moral imperative. Anything less is a failure, not only of policy but of humanity itself. 

Neermala Persaud is a current graduate student at American University in Washington DC.