Guest article by: Evgenia Zarokosta, Klimaka
Early marriage and early motherhood violate fundamental human rights, disproportionately affecting women and girls. While early marriage is a global issue that transcends countries, culture, religions and ethnicity, it remains a persistent challenge despite international human rights conventions recognising the need for action. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals include a target to end child marriage by 2030. Despite this, nearly 50% of young Roma women marry before the age of 18 and one in three becomes pregnant during adolescence.
Globally, over 650 million women experience the severe consequences of early marriage and motherhood, which include:
- Increased risks of health problems, particularly sexual, reproductive and mental health
- Limited freedom, autonomy and economic opportunities,
- Barriers to education and employment
- Higher likelihood of living in poverty and social exclusion
In Europe, early marriage rates are particularly high among Roma communities. Among Roma girls aged 13-17 and 15-19, over 40% are married or have a ‘companion’. Preliminary research results from an ongoing study in Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Romania found that 93.6% of Roma women were married between the ages of 12 –18, with 46.3% marrying as young as 12–15. Additionally, 66.7% of Roma women had their first child between 12-18, while 20.4% gave birth between the ages of 12-15.
Roma Influencers Network
The Roma Influencers Network project, funded under the Erasmus+ program, addresses the harmful practice of early marriages and early motherhood in Roma communities. By empowering, supporting, and raising awareness, particularly among women & girls, the project seeks to change behaviours and attitudes to reduce and eliminate these practices. Led by KLIMAKA NGO (Greece), the consortium consists of five partners from four countries: Cairde (Ireland), Cesis and Cooperactiva (Portugal), and Sastipen (Romania).
Project Activities and Impact
The Roma Influencers Network project integrates a series of interconnected activities which include:
- National research and reports to analyse the extent and consequences of early marriage and motherhood in Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Romania, and to compare these results at the transnational level
- Training programs to empower Roma women and girls to become influencers in their communities and to take an active role in raising awareness and advocating for change
- Campaigns in Roma settlements to create awareness and foster positive attitudes towards women’s & children’s rights
- Good practices guide, policy recommendations, and workshops to increase awareness about early marriages and early motherhood among women’s institutions, local and regional authorities, national & European institutions, NGOs, civil society, policy decision makers, mass media and the broader community
- Documentaries and festivals that contribute to positive societal impact, value and sustainable change.
Instead of being spectators of their social reality, Roma women and girls can advocate for their own futures and take action to end child marriage guaranteeing a fairer, more secure and prosperous future for themselves, as well as other women and girls.
Disclaimer: the opinions – including possible policy recommendations – expressed in the article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of EPHA. The mere appearance of the articles on the EPHA website does not mean an endorsement by EPHA.