Quito, April 28 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Reforms to the Civil Code have been passed by Ecuador's National Assembly, raising the legal age of marriage to 18, specifying the criteria for marriage and divorce, and making civil marriages a legally recognized civil status in the country.

Marriage is open to couples of all sexual orientations. The Civil Code specifies that matrimony between minors is "not considered as marriage" and must be between “two people of legal age.” The move furthers the rights of same-sex couples by annulling the prior requirement of having to prove a relationship of two years to be recognized in a civil marriage.

Same-sex couples within the country maintain the hope that the recognition of same-sex marriages in the Civil Code is a step to achieving the full rights of marriage. Having been passed by the National Assembly, articles of the Civil Code are under revision by President Rafael Correa and the executive branch, to be approved, altered or vetoed.