In order to raise awareness of professional and wider public about the need for prevention and elimination of child, early and forced marriages (CEFM), throughout this week Praxis will point at various aspects of this phenomenon, ranging from statistical data, over causes and consequences, to the main conclusions and recommendations for further activities, in a form of short messages and charts that will be shared on social media.
The CEFM problem in Serbia is mainly recognized as part of Roma tradition, which also pervades all aspects of child development, is one of the possible causes of statelessness, endangers the mental and physical health of girls, puts them at a greater risk of domestic violence, leads to increased rates of school drop-out, which together lead to a vicious cycle of poverty and economic dependence of women.
The activities performed by Praxis throughout 2016 with the financial support of UNHCR are aimed at raising awareness of children and parents, professional and wider public, about the risks and consequences of CEFM, as well as at advocating for prevention and elimination of this problem.
So far, we have held 4 two-day workshops with Roma children and parents in Leskovac and Kostolac where we discussed about the CEFM phenomenon, potential causes and consequences, with special reference to sexual and reproductive health, gender inequality, the importance of timely education, and the right to free choice of a spouse. Following the workshops, we held community meetings in Pozarevac and Leskovac attended by relevant local stakeholders with an aim to identify the possible solutions of the CEFM problem.
By the end of this year, we will hold follow-up workshops and community meetings in the same municipalities, as well as a workshop and a community meeting in Novi Pazar, which will follow up the activities held last year in this municipality, with an aim to access the effects and changes.
Also, a working group has been established to discuss possible solutions for the prevention and elimination of CEFM, and conclusions of the performed activities will be summed up in a policy brief that will address the CEFM problem.
Download the charts:
What does statistis say
For more information about the performed activities, see:
Praxis Held Community Meetings on Prevention and Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriages
Praxis Held Workshops on Prevention and Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriages
