…Researched and contributed by Gift BADEWO for TDPel Media.
Brazilian Mayor, 65, Marries 16-Year-Old Beauty Queen and Promotes Her Mother to Top Job
The Mayor of Araucaria, Hissam Hussein Dehaini, reportedly married a 16-year-old beauty queen named Kauane Rode Camargo last month.
Reports state that Kauane participated in the Miss Araucária contest last year and came second in the teen category for girls aged 15 to 17.
The couple met at a social event, and Kauane attends high school at a civic-military school in the city that her now-husband oversees.
After the wedding on April 12, Kauane’s mother, Marilene Rode, was promoted to Secretary of Culture of Araucária, having previously been a general secretary.
Marilene’s sister, Elizângela Rode, is also a commissioner at City Hall.
The local council refused to comment on the wedding as it is considered a personal matter.
Legal Age for Marriage in Brazil and Child Marriage
Under the Brazilian Civil Code, a man and woman aged sixteen can marry with authorization from both parents or their legal representatives until they reach the age of civil majority.
However, child marriage is still prevalent in Brazil, with over 2.2 million minors married, according to Girls Not Brides, an organization that seeks to end child marriage globally.
The consequences of child marriage for girls include a life of domestic service, lack of professional training, exclusion from the labor market, school dropout, and restriction of mobility and freedom, according to Flávia Gomes Cordeiro, prosecutor of Piauí.
Reactions to the Wedding
According to Hora Brasilia, the union of Kauane and Hissam has been seen as an example of true love and overcoming prejudices.
However, this case has sparked outrage and concern about child marriage in Brazil.
Many people are calling for greater action to be taken to end the practice and protect young girls from being forced into marriages.