Marriage – rroma.org https://rroma.org Tue, 20 Oct 2026 14:53:14 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://rroma.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cropped-greenwheel_large-1-32x32.png Marriage – rroma.org https://rroma.org 32 32 Mixed Couples https://rroma.org/mixed-couples/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mixed-couples Tue, 20 Oct 2026 14:53:14 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=35759 The article discusses the challenges faced by mixed couples, particularly between Romani and Czech individuals, when their families reject their relationships due to cultural differences.

It highlights the emotional turmoil of choosing between love and family, and the impact of such decisions on children born from these unions.

The author shares personal experiences of navigating these cultural divides and emphasizes the importance of love and acceptance within families, regardless of ethnic backgrounds.

]]> Child Marriage https://rroma.org/child-marriage/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=child-marriage Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:54:52 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=35546 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.

]]> Arranged Marriages https://rroma.org/arranged-marriages-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=arranged-marriages-2 Mon, 21 Sep 2026 14:52:42 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=35081 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.

]]> Early Marriages https://rroma.org/early-marriages/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=early-marriages Mon, 21 Sep 2026 14:51:37 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=35075 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.

]]> Forced Mariage https://rroma.org/forced-mariage/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=forced-mariage Thu, 17 Sep 2026 14:57:42 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34972 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.

]]> Child Marriages https://rroma.org/child-marriages-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=child-marriages-2 Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:34:48 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=33735 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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