Minors Under 15 Will Not Be Able to Marry
Adolescents under the age of 15 will not be able to marry even though they have their parents permission, if Andrea Morals of the Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC) has her way.

They can jump and scream, but it will still be a not be able to marry if the law is ever passed.

"Those younger that 15 do not have the psychological maturity to enter marriage because it entails so much responsibility, both social and personal. That is why the changes to the legislation is urgent", said Morales.

The present laws of Costa Rica permit a person under the age of 18 to marry as long as there is parental consent. Actually, there is no minimum age, so long as there is parental consent, the marriage is valid.

The new law pretends to change all that.

Those persons over the age of 15 and under 18 can marry as long as there is parental consent. However, those under the age of 15 cannot, parental consent or not.

For the law to come into effect, changes to the Family Code, both Civil and Penal, have to be made.

According to Morales, changes would also be made to combat unscrupulous acts or offences where marriage is used to cover up criminal situations, like the sexual exploitation and abuse of minors.

"It is worrisome that the Family Code can allow a marriage, in some instances, to cover up sexual abuses", were the words of deputy Morales and the major reason for the initiative.

The proposal has the support of the Partido Unión Nacional (PUN), headed José Manuel Echandi as well as the Defensoría de los Habitantes (Ombudsman) as well as the Patronato Nacional de la Infancia (PANI) - the child welfare agency - and the Fundación Paniamor.