Oaxaca Investigates Child Marriage: 15-Year Prison Sentence Possible

Oaxaca Investigates Child Marriage: 15-Year Sentence Possible San Juanito Yosocani, Oaxaca, Mexico – A recent event in the coastal region of Oaxaca has prompted a full-scale investigation by state authorities. Images and videos circulating on social media depict what appears to be the marriage of two underage children. This has sparked outrage and prompted swift action from the Oaxaca State Attorney's Office for the Protection of the Rights of Girls, Boys, and Adolescents (PRODENNAO). The Oaxaca Penal Code, amended in 2024, explicitly criminalizes forced cohabitation of minors, carrying a potential sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment. PRODENNAO has opened an investigation (case # 0628/PRODENNAO/SPE/2025) to determine whether the rights of the children involved were violated. Yarib Hernández García, head of PRODENNAO, stated that "the objective is to detect possible rights violations and assess the risks." The investigation will also address the presence and consumption of alcohol by minors at the event. While the Governor, Salomón Jara, claims the union wasn't legally recognized, stating it only took place in a "church," the investigation continues. PRODENNAO plans to implement protective measures to ensure the children's well-being and development. The case highlights the ongoing struggle against child marriage in Mexico and the importance of legal protections for minors.