BoliviaAchievements of Save the Children in the Fight Against Child Early and Forced Marriages and Unions in Bolivia
In recent years, Save the Children led a significant effort in Bolivia to address the critical problem of early and forced child marriages and unions (CEFMU). Starting in December 2022, the organization launched a study that analyzed the gaps in regulations and social perceptions around this problem. This analysis has not only highlighted the urgency of the situation, but has also sparked notable interest in the media, and among local authorities.
In 2023, and under the motto «No Exceptions» Save the Children, in alliance with around 20 civil society organizations, carried out a visibility campaign that marked a milestone in the positioning of this problem in the country. One of the most shocking data from the study indicates that 32.344 female adolescents in Bolivia contracted marriage, free union or other forms of cohabitation before the age of 15, which represents an alarming 3% of the total age population, according to INE (National Statistics Institute)-UNICEF data of 2014.
The collaboration between Save the Children and other organizations culminated in a historic advance: the approval of Departmental Law 1146 in Cochabamba, which seeks to prevent teenage pregnancy. For the first time, the CEFMU was included as an important part of this regulation: an advance that establishes a precedent in the country’s legal framework.
The commitment didn’t stop there; in 2024, these regulations were regulated through Decree 6357, laying the foundations for a lasting change in the prevention of teenage pregnancy and the fight against child unions and marriages. These achievements have not only provided a new cycle of visibility and action, but also reflect the joint work of various stakeholders to address a historically neglected issue in Bolivia.
The work of Save the Children and its allies has been fundamental to advance the protection of the rights of girls and adolescents. Through these efforts, a hopeful path has been initiated towards a future where all boys and girls can exercise their right to a childhood free of the pressure of early marriages and unions.
