GUATEMALA CHILD MARRIAGE

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000734

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G/IWI:KHADIAGALA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM ELAB EAID KWMN PGOV SCUL SOCI GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA CHILD MARRIAGE

REF: STATE 36341


1. The answers below are keyed to the reftel questions.


A. Article 8 of the Civil Code specifies that the age of
majority is 18 years for both males and females. Article 81
establishes the age of majority as the legal age of marriage.
Articles 82-84, however, specify that males over age 16 and
females over age 14 can be married with parental or judicial
permission.


B. The most recent 2002 National Household Maternal and Child
Health Survey (ENSMI),conducted by USAID and CDC, notes that
18.2 percent of 15-19 year old females are in a union, along
with 5.7 percent of males in the same age group. The same
study notes that 5.7 percent of females in the 15-19 age
group entered into a union before age 15.


C. While several U.S. Government-funded initiatives address
health and education concerns of Guatemalan children, none
directly address child marriage. In particular, the U.S.
Department of Labor addresses the worst forms of child labor
through grants to the International Labor Organization and
Catholic Relief Services, and USAID operates several programs
through its Office of Health and Education.
HAMILTON