Early marriage – culture or abuse?
The content reflects the views only of the author, and the e-RR project partner consortium cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.Country/partner countries
Slovenia, Bulgaria, Italy
Project lead partner/organization and contact person (e-mail, links) project website
Ljudska univerza Kočevje/People's University of Kočevje (SI, Lead partner)
Contact person: Barbara Mavrin, barbara.mavrin@lu-kocevje.si
Telephone number: 00386 01 8938 270
Project website: http://www.early-marriage.eu/
Project information – start and end date (if available)
1.10.2014 - 30.9.2016
Summary (goals and purposes of the project)
The main objectives of the project are focused on exploring the sociological aspect of the Roma view on early marriage, early detecting the problems in the Roma community as well as educating teachers, Roma representatives, experts in the field of social work, counselling and health care, NGO’s and the police on how to act as a mediator at the occurrence of early / forced marriage. Furthermore, education prevention programme will be developed to raise awareness among schoolchildren on topics, such as reproductive health, cultural diversity, violence, peaceful resolution of conflicts. The most important outputs and deliverables are the tools and results of the sociological research, the prepared and executed training programme for mediators, employed Roma mediators who will carry out "door to door" visits in Roma settlements, an organized thematic discussion of interdepartmental teams, the implementation of prevention programmes in primary schools with an educational film, discussions in the community, discussions in the group and guidelines with research findings and tested recommendations for the prevention of early / forced marriages to be sent to decision-makers in all project partners countries. The dissemination strategy includes the work with mass media, the project website, promotion in elementary schools, the publication of the programme for mediators, the publication of a prevention programme for schoolchildren and the final conference in Ljubljana.
Results of the project
As a result, the members of the Roma community and others will develop higher awareness on the topic and will be presented with the notion that early / forced marriage is not a cultural norm and that getting education and marrying later is a more favourable practice that does not violate Roma culture but contributes to its development.
Schoolchildren will receive knowledge on reproductive health, sexual education and family planning, encouragement to learn and acquire skills for constructive solving of conflict situations; awareness of cultural diversity and modernization of Roma culture.
A Roma mediator will be trained and will have the experience to detect problems. Public services on the local level (schools, social services, health community centres, police, others) and NGO’s will gain necessary knowledge on how to act as a mediator.
The most important outputs and deliverables are the tools and results of the sociological research, the prepared and executed training program for mediators, employed Roma mediators who will carry out "door to door" visits in Roma settlements, an organized thematic discussion of interdepartmental teams, the implementation of prevention programmes in primary schools with an educational film, discussions in the community, discussions in the group and guidelines with research findings and tested recommendations for the prevention of early / forced marriages to be sent to decision-makers in all project partners countries.
Who will benefit from this project (target group)
The main target group are the members of the Roma community, especially parents. Their children, in particular girls aged 12-14 , are the main beneficiaries of these activities. The target group are also public services on the local level (schools, social services, health community centres, police and others) and NGO’s and Roma activists.
Sources of funding
European Union (DG Justice), program Daphne
Link
http://early-marriage.eu/