Roma Influencers Network
Roma Influencers breaking the circle of early marriages and early motherhood in Roma communities
Motivation
Despite the fact that one of the Sustainable Development Goals developed by the United Nations (UN) is to end child marriage by 2030 almost half of young Roma women are married before the age of 18 and nearly one in three become pregnant while still in adolescence according to UNFPA(United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency). Meanwhile there is lack of researches, lack of data, lack of regulations, lack of awareness, lack of policy responses to tackle early marriages & early motherhood f.e. by integrating the harmful phenomenon in 2020-2030 EU Roma Strategic Framework and the EU Member States National Roma Strategic Frameworks. Although some NRSFs have proposed measures to address intersectional or multiple discrimination, including dedicated actions to tackle the specific challenges faced by Roma women the harmful consequences of early marriages and early motherhood is not highlighted.
Objective
The project "Roma Influencers breaking the circle of early marriages and early motherhood in Roma communities" under the title acronym "Roma Influencers Network" derives from the gravity of the extremely harmful practice of early marriages and early motherhood in Roma communities. It is focused on empowering, supporting, protecting and awareness raising of the Roma community, especially women & girls affected by the specific concern by suggesting ways to change behaviors and attitudes in order to overcome, reduce or eliminate it.
As, additionally, even today, the fundamental rights of Roma and Travellers are not respected: antigypsyism, discrimination, poverty and social exclusion, as well as hate crime and hate speech and continue to affect a disproportionate number of Roma and Travellers across the EU, as implications, consequences and dangers related to early marriages & early motherhood are severe: lack of autonomy, lack of education, limited decision-making power, as well as high risks of health problems, including sexual and reproductive health, insecurity, gender based violence, early school drop-out (both for girls and boys) leading to exclusion from professional career, poverty & illiteracy, motivation is clear and obvious and project is of vital importance. "Roma Influencers Network" project is of ultimate importance for the Roma community since the rates of early marriages and early motherhood are extremely high. Cultural practices, poverty, low education, and poor awareness affect Roma sexual and reproductive health and need increased attention.
The lack of proper community outreach by providers and other relevant stakeholders to address information and awareness needs on issues raised by early marriages and early motherhood, the insufficient enforcement of legal instruments for addressing the issue of early marriages, the lack of role models and sustainable practices to trigger change, highlight the significance of the project.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the State Scholarship Foundation (IKY). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.