“You have to suffer because of something. When you get children, your love moves on to them and you forget about beating…I hope I’ll be able to forget one day,” said A.A., a victim of forced marriage.

Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we would like to remind the public that the girls all around the world are still exposed to child, early and forced marriages. Every year, fifteen million girls under 18 become victims of child marriages.

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Roma girls in Serbia are “getting married” under the pretext that these marriages are a part of the tradition of the Roma community.  Child, early and forced marriages represent violation of the girls’ rights, they endanger their mental and physical health, expose them to a greater risk of domestic violence, lead to increased rates of school drop-out, and, later, to poverty and their economic dependence on a husband and the community. As such, they represent severe violation of women’s human rights.

Throughout 2016, Praxis has been conducting activities aimed at prevention and elimination of child, early and forced marriages. During the discussions about the causes and consequences of this harmful traditional practice, the Roma women shared their traumatic experiences with us:  

“My father sold me when I was 17. The story about violence is the story of my life. That’s it, what can I do.”

“Mistreatment occurs in marriage. Most women have experienced it, and each one of them keeps it to herself.”

“When you get married as a young girl, someone always mistreats you.”

Therefore, today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we would like to draw attention to the fact that it is necessary to prevent further neglect and abuse of girls who become victims of the emotional, mental and physical violence due to this harmful traditional practice.