[The rights of the Colombian family in the U.N. Convention]. / El derecho de familia Colombiano frente a la Convencion de la O.N.U.

PIP: One of the most important texts that exists to eliminate discriminatory practice against women is Article 16 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women whose focus is on establishing equality between men and women in marriage. The State needs to intervene in the private lives of families because institutional discrimination against women often begins with the role she plays within the family. Article 16 gives equal weight to men and women in marriage. However, the Civil Code of Colombia has established the legal age of marriage to be 18 for men and women alike, while in a article it states that boys under 14 and girls under 12 are incapable of marriage. Article 16 forces countries that have ratified the Convention to enforce a legal age of marriage, because it acknowledges that a woman depends on her biological maturity to procreate. The Convention also gives women the same rights in deciding on the number and spacing of children. The goals of the Convention establishes equal rights between men and women as spouses, in matters of property and in the administration of all good and responsibilities of the family.^ieng