Analysis of teenage marriage according to Law No. 5,419/2015, in light of the principles of the best interest of the child and progressive autonomy

Abstract

The research aims to analyze to what extent teenage marriage affects the principles of the best interests of the child and progressive autonomy laid down in article 20 of Law No. 5.419/2015. Child marriages and early and forced unions (CMEFU) are defined as any union, formal or informal, in which one or both parties are under 18 years of age (United Nations Population Fund [UNFPA] and Plan International Paraguay, 2021). It is a problem with sociocultural, educational, economic, legal, and health dimensions, among others, that faces weak public institutions, lack of access to rights and lack of protection for a large proportion of girls, boys and adolescents; and it embodies one of the types of violence towards childhood and adolescence.  The research method that is adopted is of the empirical type, with a mixed approach and the design adopted is concurrent triangulation (DITRIAC). The documents studied include reports from the National Institute of Statistics, from a Civil Registry of the City of Saltos del Guairá and responses provided by judges of the juvenile court, court clerk and civil registry officer.