CHILD MARRIAGE: JAMAICA

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000698

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR (BENT) AND G/IWI (KHADIAGALA)
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD AND J7 (RHANNAN)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: JM ECON ELAB PHUM PGOV SCUL SOCI KWMN
SUBJECT: CHILD MARRIAGE: JAMAICA

REF: STATE 36341


1. Per reftel instructions, this cable addresses the issue of
child marriage in Jamaica.


2. A. What is the legal age of marriage in your country? Is
it the same for girls and boys? Is there a lower legal age
for marriage with parental consent?


3. A. The legal age of marriage, with or without parental
consent, is 16 years. The law, set forth in the Marriage Act
of 1897, is the same for both boys and girls.


4. B. To what extent is underage marriage a significant
problem, either among the population at large or within on or
more minority groups? To what extent does underage marriage
have adverse affects on the well being of the child?


5. B. Underage marriage is not a significant problem in
Jamaica. A University of California Berkeley study found the
median age of first marriage in Jamaica to be 31 for both men
and women. The study found that less than one percent of the
population between ages 15 and 19 is married.


6. C. Are there currently any U.S.-funded initiatives in your
host country that aim to reduce the incidence or address the
negative affects of child marriage?


7. C. There are no U.S.-funded initiatives that address the
issue.
ROBINSON