Physical Autonomy
Physical autonomy refers to the ability of women, adolescents, and girls in all their diversity to live a life free from discrimination, harmful practices, and violence, and to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights in appropriate conditions.
Indicators
Adolescent birth rate
About this Indicator
Adolescent pregnancy and motherhood have serious effects on the comprehensive development of girls and adolescents, limiting their autonomy. It represents a widespread reality in the region, against which States have committed to developing effective public policies to implement the international and regional agreements they have adopted to reduce it. The adolescent fertility rate for women between the ages of 15 to 19 and 10 to 14 is one of the indicators that tracks target 3.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), aimed at ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health services by 2030.
Definition
This indicator corresponds to the annual number of births to women aged 10 to 14 years or 15 to 19 years. The result is an annual rate per 1,000 women in the respective age group. The source of information is the UN SDG database, based on information from vital statistics and other sources, such as census data, demographic and health surveys, and national surveys. Information from each country is published according to the most recent available year.
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| 9 Dec 2024 | Child marriage laws
Marriage (Amendment) Act, 2024
Ley para modificar la Ley de Matrimonio. Se aumenta la edad para contraer matrimonio a dieciocho años; se eliminan las disposiciones sobre el consentimiento para el matrimonio infantil que deben dar los padres o tutores; y asuntos relacionados.
| 16 Feb 2021 | Laws against gender-based violenceProtection from Domestic Violence Act
This act determines what constitutes an act of domestic violence against a person. Domestic violence includes emotional or psychological abuse; financial abuse; physical abuse; or sexual abuse.
| 3 Aug 2017 | Laws against gender-based violenceMiscellaneous Provisions (Marriage) Act
This act amends the Marriage and Divorce Act, Chap. 45:02, the Hindu Marriage Act, Chap. 45:03, the Orisa Marriage Act, Chap. 45:04 and the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Act, Chap. 45:51. Through the modification introduced by Section 3, the marriage of minors under 18 years of age is absolutely prohibited.
More recent publications
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24 Nov 2025 | Observatory PublicationFemicidal Violence in Figures Bulletin. Latin America and the Caribbean - Nº4. Towards substantive gender equality and the care society: acting with urgency to ensure women’s and girls’ right to a life free from violence
In 2024, at least 3,828 women were victims of femicide or gender-related violent death in 26 countries and territories of the region, according to the most recent data provided by official agencies to the Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean. This represents at least 11 gender-related violent deaths of women every day, and a cumulative total of at least 19,254 recorded f... -
24 Nov 2025 | Observatory Publication
Femicidal Violence in Figures Bulletin. Latin America and the Caribbean - Nº4. Towards substantive gender equality and the care society: acting with urgency to ensure women’s and girls’ right to a life free from violence
In 2024, at least 3,828 women were victims of femicide or gender-related violent death in 26 countries and territories of the region, according to the most recent data provided by official agencies to the Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean. This represents at least 11 gender-related violent deaths of women every day, and a cumulative total of at least 19,254 recorded f...