Bolivia has taken a decisive step in protecting children’s rights by passing a law that bans marriage and civil unions for anyone under 18. Until now, 16- and 17-year-olds could marry with the permission of parents or a judge, but that exception has been removed, bringing the country into line with international standards. The reform was hailed by Save the Children, which supported a four-year campaign led by girls and civil society groups who argued that early marriage strips children of their education, health, and freedom.
The numbers show why the law was needed. Between 2014 and 2023, more than 4,800 adolescents aged 16 or 17 entered legally registered marriages, often with partners significantly older. National surveys reveal that around 3% of girls are married before turning 15, and more than one in five before 18. These unions are linked with higher rates of early pregnancy, school dropout and exposure to violence—factors that can trap families in poverty across generations.
How the change was won
Campaigners have been pushing for consistency across Bolivia’s legal framework for years. While the Child, Girl and Adolescent Code already set 18 as the minimum age for marriage, the Family and Family Procedure Code carved out an exception that undermined the principle. By closing that loophole, legislators have not only clarified the law but made it enforceable. As El País reported, officials who register under-age marriages could now face prison sentences of up to four years, a measure intended to prevent judges and registrars from turning a blind eye.
The momentum behind this reform came from grassroots activism as much as from lawmakers. Girls themselves played a visible role, telling their stories in public forums and highlighting the ways marriage curtailed their education and increased risks to their health. Civil society networks like Coordinadora de la Mujer and IPAS Bolivia added legal expertise and advocacy, creating pressure that government could no longer ignore.
International bodies were also watching. The UN has called repeatedly for child marriage to be eradicated worldwide by 2030 as part of its Sustainable Development Goals. With Bolivia’s new law, the country becomes the fourteenth in Latin America to close all legal exceptions, joining a regional trend that has accelerated over the last decade.
What comes next
The law is a milestone, but implementation will decide whether it changes lives. Enforcement will have to reach rural and Indigenous communities, where under-age unions have often been treated as tradition. Officials will need training, registry systems must be monitored, and public campaigns will be required, so families understand that marrying off their children is no longer legally possible. Of course, legislation must go hand in hand with education, poverty reduction and support for girls to stay in school.
There is also the risk of displacement: when formal marriages are banned, some families may push children into informal unions that are harder to track. That’s why campaigners argue that the new law must be accompanied by investment in social programmes such as scholarships, safe housing, and reproductive health services that give children alternatives to early marriage.
Still, the symbolism matters. For the thousands of girls who feared their futures might be dictated by parental decisions or social pressure, the law offers protection backed by the state. It also tells the world that Bolivia recognises child marriage not as a cultural norm but, as activists put it, a form of violence.
Bolivia’s decision to outlaw child marriage marks a turning point. It reflects years of pressure from young people themselves, shows how activism can translate into legal reform, and places the country alongside its neighbours in Latin America who are reshaping the landscape for girls’ rights. The challenge now is to make the law a lived reality, so that what has been written in the statute book is reflected in every classroom, every registry office, and every family home.