Puerto Rico is a semi-autonomous territory of the United States. The Constitution of Puerto Rico states that “all men are equal and no discrimination may be made on the basis of race, colour, [and] gender (...)”, thereby upholding the principle of equality between men and women. However, the country has not ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Its “territory” status means that it cannot sign international agreements or instruments, and also makes it very difficult to obtain information about the situation of women. It is known, however, that social stereotypes prevail regarding the role of women.
In 2001, the government established a Bureau for the Defence of Women (Oficina de la Procuradora de las Mujeres). A very large number of Puerto Rican households are headed by single women, who generally have low incomes.
Very little information is available about the level of protection provided to Puerto Rican women in regard to family matters. The minimum legal age for marriage with parental authorisation is 18 years for men and 16 years for women; without parental authorisation, it is 21 years for both men and women. Still, the incidence of early marriage is quite high. A 2004 United Nations report estimated that 19 per cent of girls between 15 and 19 years of age were married, divorced or widowed. Puerto Rican law does not recognise common-law marriage. Polygamy is not commonly practised in Puerto Rico.
At time of publication, insufficient data were available to assess whether Puerto Rico grants equal rights to women and men in the areas of parental authority and inheritance.
The physical integrity of Puerto Rican women does not appear to be well protected and violence against women is a serious problem. A law on domestic violence (Act 54) was passed in 1989, but legal precedents have restricted its range; for example, Act 54 excludes adulterous and same-sex couples, thereby leaving individuals in such relationships without legal protection. In 1998, the Penal Code was amended to introduce a time limit on the prosecution of sexual crimes. The period of limitation is five years if the victim is aged above 21 years; for younger victims, the period of limitation extends to five years beyond their 21st birthday. The number of recorded cases of domestic violence rose significantly during the 1990s.
Legislation was passed in 1976 (Resolution 2471) to provide for the allocation of funds to create a support centre for victims of rape. Official statistics indicate that nearly half of the Puerto Rican women who are murdered die as a result of violence perpetrated by their partner.
Female genital mutilation is not a common practice in Puerto Rico, and there is no evidence to indicate that it is a country of concern in relation to missing women.
At time of publication, there were insufficient data to indicate whether women’s ownership rights are restricted in relation to access to land,access to property other than land, and access to bank loans.
Puerto Rico protects women’s civil liberties. There do not appear to be any restrictions on women’s freedom of movement or freedom of dress.
Cornell Law School (n.d.), Marriage Laws of the Fifty States, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, www.law.cornell.edu/topics/Table_Marriage.htm.
ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council) (2003), Integration of the Human Rights of Wo¬men and the Gender Perspective: Violence Against Women, E/CN.4/2003/75/Add.1, UNNew York, NY.
Gouvernement de Puerto Rico (2008), Estadísticas, www.gobierno.pr/mujeres/estadisticasNUevo/.
Officina de la Procuradora de las Mujeres (2000), Perfil Demográfico y Socioecinómico de la Pobla¬ción Desagregado por Género, www.gobierno.pr/NR/rdonlyres/F13A3E7F-CB4F-43F1-A53F-5FA¬D32A32CA0/0/PERFILOPMPob_Desagregada_Genero_Internet3.pdf.
Officina de la Procuradora de las Mujeres (2006), Situacion de las mujeres en Puerto Rico, www.gobierno.pr/NR/rdonlyres/1B47CBF1-CDFD-4678-B210-693939B72D11/0/situacionycondiciondelasmu¬jeresempuertoricoRev92006.pdf.
UN (United Nations) (2004), World Fertility Report 2003, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population DivisionNew York, NY.
