BOGOTA, (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Rampant gang violence and drug turf wars in parts of Central America are fuelling child marriage as girls seek to marry or couple with gang members and older men as a form of protection, researchers say.
Traditionally child marriage has been most prevalent among indigenous communities in rural areas across Central America.
But humanitarian groups working in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, say anecdotal evidence gathered in the past five years shows drug-fuelled gang violence and organised crime is driving more girls to get married in cities. “We are seeing and hearing that increasing numbers of girls are getting married and coupled to seek protection from gang violence and intimation from gangs,” said Amanda Rives, Latin America advocacy director for the charity World Vision.
