Tag Archives: Marriage

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Child Marriage

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Child Marriage

Zlatka V., a 16-year-old Romni from Plovdiv, shares her traumatic experience of being sold into marriage at 14, highlighting the issue of child brides in Bulgaria and the lack of awareness about International Day of the Girl.

UNICEF reports that over 70 million girls are sold into marriage annually, with many more in unregistered unions, particularly among the Roma community in Bulgaria.

The article emphasizes the rising violence against girls in schools, domestic abuse, and the need for more attention to the plight of girls beyond just one day of recognition each year.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Arranged Marriages

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Arranged Marriages

Dorin Cioabă, a representative of the Roma community, expressed outrage over a new Romanian law that could imprison parents who arrange marriages for minors.

He argues that the law fails to distinguish between forced marriages and consensual relationships among adolescents, which could lead to unnecessary legal consequences.

The law, recently passed by the Romanian Parliament, imposes prison sentences of 2 to 7 years for forced marriages involving minors under 16, aiming to protect young individuals from coercion.

Greece News Western Europe

Early Marriages

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Early Marriages

Rena Dourou, head of SYRIZA-PS, labeled early marriages among Roma women as a form of gender-based violence during a presentation of a European project aimed at addressing this issue.

She emphasized the dual struggle for bodily autonomy and a dignified life faced by young Roma women, criticizing the societal acceptance of early marriages as a taboo that hinders their dreams.

Dourou highlighted the importance of local government in combating exclusion and mentioned the initiatives taken by the Attica region against anti-Roma sentiment, while honoring the late Deputy Regional Governor for his contributions to Roma solidarity.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Forced Mariage

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Forced Mariage

The Romanian House of Representatives approved a bill to criminalize forced marriage, with specific penalties for cases involving minors and a media campaign to raise awareness.

The Roma community has expressed concerns that the law threatens their traditions and identity, while advocacy groups for Roma women support the initiative as a step towards protecting children from abuse.

The bill aims to shift societal perceptions of forced marriage from a private issue to a public concern, emphasizing that marriage should only occur with free consent.

Montenegro News Eastern Europe

Child Marriages

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Child Marriages

Child marriages, particularly in Roma communities in Montenegro, continue despite legal prohibitions, with many girls entering into arranged marriages as young as 12 or 14 years old.

Victims like Jasmina recount experiences of abuse and lack of agency, with decisions about their marriages made by male family members without their consent.

Organizations are working to combat child marriages, but many cases remain unreported due to societal pressures and the normalization of these practices within the communities.

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