Guatemala

In Guatemala, many children go unregistered due to child marriage and pregnancies during adolescence. Early child marriage in Guatemala is driven by low education levels, poverty, and gang violence, with families marrying off their daughters because they see it as a way to protect them. Adolescent girls who get pregnant can be pressured into early marriage to protect the family honour. Guatemala outlawed all child marriage in 2017. However, CEDAW (2023) noted with concern the high prevalence of child marriage and that many girls enter into a union before they are 18 years of age, even when the law prohibits it. The Committee also noted the high number of early pregnancies and unregistered births, often resulting from incestuous sexual violations. Authorities must report cases of births to underage mothers, which may deter mothers from seeking registration due to the fear of criminal investigation or retaliation. The Committee recommended addressing the root causes of early pregnancy, including socioeconomic vulnerability, limited access to education, and sexual violence within families, and increasing access of girls and adolescents to registration offices.