State authorities have not yet provided information to confirm or deny what happened with the minors in Acapulco, Guerrero. Child marriage is a practice that, according to the Institute of Social Security and Services for State Workers (ISSSTE), involves formal or informal unions where one or both spouses are under 18 years old. Although the incidence of this practice has decreased worldwide, a decade ago in Mexico, one in four girls was married.
In 2019, Article 148 of the Federal Civil Code was modified to stipulate that individuals must be at least 18 years old to marry, thus prohibiting child marriage at both federal and local levels, except in Baja California, which still contains certain exceptions in its state laws according to the Secretariat of Governance (Segob). Engaging in a child marriage may constitute a crime related to human trafficking, sexual exploitation, or child abuse.
These marriages, which occur for cultural, economic, or religious reasons, remain a widespread practice in Mexico, especially in indigenous and rural communities governed by customs and traditions. In Guerrero, in some Mixtec or Tlapanec indigenous communities, it is common to give daughters as dowries or to resolve conflicts.
The case that has caused outrage on social media is that of Gael and Celia, two minors who were allegedly married in a rural community of Acapulco, Guerrero, according to an arrangement between their parents, despite being prohibited since 2019. The live broadcast of the wedding generated significant impact among users, showing the newlyweds enjoying the celebration with dancing, music, food, and drinks alongside guests in a place decorated with colorful balloons.
