Colombia's parliament has approved a ban on underage marriage after 17 years of debate.

Colombia's parliament has approved a bill banning marriages between people under 18, after 17 years of debate and eight failed attempts. The law, entitled 'They are girls, not wives', comes as millions of girls and women in Colombia have married before the age of 18. The ban on early marriage is an important step towards protecting the rights of children and adolescents.