Child marriages: a case study in the community of Xochistlahuaca, Guerrero

Abstract

Child marriage was configured as a human rights violation rooted in poverty, gender inequality, and marginalization, and persisted in indigenous communities in Guerrero, such as Xochistlahuaca, despite federal legal prohibition, due to economic, educational, and cultural factors and the continuation of normative systems based on customs and traditions. The objective of this research was to analyze the causes and consequences of these unions in that Amuzgo community, as well as to examine the conflict between universal human rights and traditional community systems. To this end, a documentary and qualitative methodology was employed, based on bibliographic review, legal analysis, and comparative study of academic research, institutional reports, and specialized articles on the Costa Chica region, also incorporating specific sociocultural elements of the local population. Among the main results, extreme poverty, structural violence, low educational coverage, and cultural normalization were identified as the central causes of these practices. It was also verified that these unions directly violated fundamental rights such as education, health, personal integrity, and the free development of girls. Finally, it was concluded that the eradication of the problem required comprehensive strategies that included community education, institutional strengthening, participation of indigenous leaders, economic empowerment of women, and intercultural policies that harmonized collective rights with universal ones, without allowing practices harmful to children.