Brazilian Court Acquittal Sparks Outrage and Debate on Child Marriage
A recent Brazilian court decision to acquit a 35-year-vintage man accused of raping a 12-year-old girl has ignited widespread controversy and renewed the debate surrounding the normalization of child marriage in the country. The ruling, which characterized the relationship as one between “two young lovers” with a “consensual emotional bond,” has drawn condemnation from activists, politicians, and legal experts alike.
The Case and the Ruling
The case originated in 2024 in Indianapolis, a small town in the state of Minas Gerais, when the 12-year-old girl stopped attending school. Investigations revealed she was living with a man almost three times her age, with the consent of her mother. Brazilian law stipulates that individuals under the age of 14 lack the capacity to consent to sexual relations Decreto-Lei Nº 2.848, de 7 de Dezembro de 1940. Despite this, the court acquitted the man, reversing a prior nine-year prison sentence.
The decision was made with a 2-1 vote, with the two male judges supporting the acquittal and the sole female judge dissenting.
Prevalence of Child Marriage in Brazil
The acquittal has brought renewed attention to the concerning prevalence of child marriage in Brazil. According to census data, approximately 34,000 Brazilian girls under the age of 14 have declared themselves as “married,” despite the illegality of marriage before the age of 16. 38 babies are born each day to mothers under the age of 14 in Brazil, a country with a population of 211 million.
A Pattern of Acquittals
This controversial ruling is not an isolated incident. UOL reported nine acquittals in 2024 and 2025 in cases involving adults accused of raping children under 14, with all nine cases presided over by male judges El Pais.
Calls for Change and Political Reactions
Luciana Temer, president of the Liberta Institute, a leading organization fighting against child abuse, emphasized the need for a cultural shift, stating, “We have to change people’s mindsets because this is a deeply rooted cultural issue.”
The ruling has surprisingly garnered criticism from across the political spectrum, uniting figures like ultraconservative Nikolas Ferreira and Erika Hilton, a transgender member of parliament from the Socialism and Liberty Party.
The National Council of Justice has requested an explanation from the Minas Gerais court regarding the acquittal. The Ministries of Human Rights and Women jointly condemned the decision, highlighting the 34,000 girls living in conjugal unions as reported in the census.
Ongoing Legal Processes
The Public Prosecutor’s Office initially filed charges against both the man and the girl’s mother. While the man was initially sentenced to nine years in prison, his appeal led to the recent acquittal. The mother was previously acquitted in the first trial.