In Brazil, 43K Kids Under 14 Married

Many families unaware these unions are illegal
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 14, 2011 6:33 AM CDT
In Brazil 43K Kids Under 14 Married, Says 2010 Census
Many families are unaware these unions are illegal.   (Getty Images)

America's 2010 census revealed gloomy news; Brazil's revealed illegal news. According to 2010 figures, 43,000 children under the age of 14 are living with a partner—something that is against the law but clearly not uncommon. Brazil's penal code bans those under 14 from getting married, and defines sex with them as statutory rape. But one legal expert says it's far from unheard of for families, unaware of the law, to ask the court for permission to marry off a too-young daughter. The AP notes that the states that are most frequently home to these unions have the country's lowest per-capita income. (More census stories.)

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