DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: CHILD MARRIAGE

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 001367 SIPDIS DEPT FOR G/IWI (KHADIAGALA),WHA/CAR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM DR SUBJECT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: CHILD MARRIAGE REF: STATE 36341 ¶1. The following is Embassy Santo Domingo's response to reftel. ¶A. According to the National Council for Adolescents and Children (CONANI),the agency charged with the protection of children, the legal age of marriage in the Dominican Republic is 18. Adolescents (defined as those between the ages of 13 and 18) can marry with the consent of their parents or legal guardians. There is no distinction in the law between boys and girls. In practice, very few children marry before the age of 15, although no official statistics are available. ¶B. There are no known cases of underage marriage in the Dominican Republic. In order to complete the marriage documents, a minor must present a notarized copy of a parental consent form to a public offical, which becomes part of the permanent record. CONANI believes that a small number of underaged children may live with partners in rural areas (most likely with the consent of their parents),but they are prohibited from marrying because they cannot meet the legal requirements. ¶C. There are no U.S.-funded initiatives in the Dominican Republic to address child marriage. HERTELL