Two non-governmental organisations (NGO) marked Human Rights Day by calling for the immediate overhaul of laws that still permit child marriage, saying the country’s legal framework continues to expose girls to exploitation and lifelong harm.
The Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) and Blossom Inc said the Marriage Act sets 18 as the official minimum age, but multiple clauses allow girls under 18, including those as young as 16 with parental consent, and younger in cases such as pregnancy, to be legally married. They described these provisions as “harmful loopholes” that legitimise child marriage and increase girls’ risk of rape and domestic violence.
According to the groups, Guyana has one of the highest child-marriage rates in Latin America and the Caribbean. Estimates from global network Girls Not Brides indicate that 32% of girls in Guyana are married before age 18 and 6% before 15, while 12% of boys marry before 18.
They also pointed to the Guyana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2014), which said:
– 4% of women aged 15–49 were married before 15
– 27% of women aged 20–49 were married before 18
– 13% of girls aged 15–19 are currently married or in union
– Rates peak in Indigenous and hinterland communities, reaching 32% in Region 1 for girls 15–19
Age gaps are also significant. Based on the more than 10-year-old data, 16% of married girls aged 15–19 had husbands at least 10 years older, and nearly a third were married to men five to nine years older. The NGOs say these disparities heighten risks including violence and coercion.
GRPA and Blossom Inc warned that the last major national survey on the issue was conducted in 2014 and called the absence of updated research a barrier to evidence-based policymaking. They urged the government to commission new national studies to assess current trends, especially in Indigenous and migrant communities.
The groups also pressed for comprehensive reforms, including:
– Eliminating all legal exceptions that permit marriage below 18
– Strengthening protection and accountability systems
– Expanding adolescent-friendly health and social services
– Investing in community-based education programs
– Updating national data on child marriage prevalence and drivers
“Every child deserves the freedom to learn, grow and determine their own future — free from coercion, discrimination and violence,” the groups said.
