Sunday, January 12, 2003

A story released today by Reuters reports that a new Brazilian civil code which updates social rules in Latin America's largest country of 170 million people, formally ends many of the most sexist laws that allowed men to rule the roost in government, business and at home.

Replacing a 1916 text, the code states that a bridegroom can no longer throw out his bride if he discovers that she is not a virgin. It also gives women equal rights to men in marriage.

"We hope the attitude of judges will change because the new code now gives women the same rights as men," said Andresa Caldas, legal director at the Justicia Global nongovernmental aid group.

Symbolically, the new code, which took nearly 30 years to draft, no longer refers to the rights of a "man" but of a "person."

The father is no longer considered to be head of the family and the mother now has an equal say in the upbringing of children.

Reflecting changes in society, the family is defined as members of any stable union, and no longer has to be sealed by marriage.

The new code still considered adultery as a reason for ending a marriage, which some lawyers consider unfair because Brazilian society is more tolerant of promiscuity by men.

The legal age for marriage has also been reduced to 18, from 21, and children can become independent at 16.

Adopted children and those born out of wedlock now enjoy the same rights as those born within marriage.

The new code also allows men to request paternity tests whenever they want and no longer have to do so within two months of a child's birth.

Some lawyers are skeptical of any leap forward for women in a male-dominated culture of Brazil.