Regulating Family Law in Federations: The Impact of De/Centralization, Religion, and International Treaties on Abortion and Child Marriage Policies.

This article examines how federalism influences the regulation and reform of family law (FL), focusing specifically on child marriage and abortion policies across federations. It identifies three key variables affecting FL reform: the extent of centralization (with legislation typically centralized and implementation decentralized), religion (including state–religion relations and the politicization of religion), and international norms-building through treaties and conventions. The study finds that centralization is the most significant factor facilitating reform, while religion's politicization can hinder progress, especially regarding abortion rights; international norms-building has limited impact due to legal loopholes and lack of enforceable abortion rights in international law. The article highlights that decentralized implementation often leads to uneven enforcement and regional disparities, as seen in countries like Mexico, Spain, India, and the United States, where local religious and political dynamics shape outcomes.