“Children’s marriages” – serious, and almost the invisible problem. Juvenile marriages are not just statistics, they are painful traces in women’s lives. It is a violation of their basic rights, as well as a difficult reality that destroys their dreams and the future. N1 Through emotional and brave confession of women who have passed through “hell” juvenile marriages reveal a realistic image, it talks about the injustice they still live, but also the fight for freedom and right to their own life. Their testimonies are not only theirs – but also the science and appeal to save all those who could be found in their place.
Two women from Bosnia and Herzegovina (cities, first name and surname known to the newsroom) agreed to talk about our television. We had the opportunity to step into their lives and testify to what many refuse to admit. They hosted us in their homes, where they bravely told us their stories. In addition to the tears, they remembered the hell through which they passed.
“I married 13 and gave birth to 15”
“I married at 13 years. The first child from giving birth to 15 years. I was a child, I wasn’t aware of actually what water I sailed. When I gave birth to the first child, I didn’t even know how I should hold him. I didn’t know, at all how to act. And I had to leave him to my mom … That hurts today. I still have a feeling of guilt that I left that child. Now I have more five children. Just a few days ago I was born, “the first woman said in his confession.
Then she added:
“I never had my family and I thought I’d have my family after getting married. I didn’t realize myself, and I had already gave birth to a baby. There was a fairy tale at the beginning, and it wasn’t nice later. I got up at four in the morning. The holy had to iron, that when he dressed his shirt to be hot. It didn’t ask me to, but from my mother-in-law. However, I had to follow everything and I know how it was done. It hurts a lot that my first son is not with me, but he is studying there and everything has. I don’t know with him nice to talk. He tells me I’m his heart and his soul. I see it every day over the phone, but this is not often. Imagine how you see that everyone is there, but that he doesn’t have him. There is no one with me. “
She also stated that his girlfriend always advises only to study, to be independent.
“I just wanted me to be a child to be freely. But I didn’t have his support then, he wasn’t with me. I tell my girls that never suffer anything. If you have made a mistake, it can be corrected. Don’t put up any violence. I don’t suffer anything today, because I have someone to contact. I used to suffer, but now no. She told you to young people that she shouldn’t have done it, that she should continue to study. I didn’t go through life. I don’t know where the cafe is. I don’t know where, because I didn’t walk. I don’t even know where Tuzla nor Sarajevo. I never walked anywhere. I always tell my children to open my eyes. She knows my whole situation, I received epilepsy attacks from fear. And now I have attacks, I’m not well now. I use therapies. When I get attacks, I can’t walk, “she said.
He says that she is most sorry that she didn’t end school and have a dream to become a hairdresser.
“I always wanted to be a hairdresser. That’s the whole life of the dream. Last birth I feel like I was born again. Like everything came out of me. I am a lot of an emotional person. Everything touches me. The child grows there somewhere, he is now as a boy. Sometimes I have no money to give children a sandwich to buy. I don’t sleep all night, I’m thinking. You never know who you get in marriage with “she said.
“I married at age 16, the saintly mistreated me”
The other woman in our confession said she married at 16, and the person she married was only a few times.
“Parents didn’t even let me marry early. I thought he wouldn’t be the load that my mother suffered. My mother suffered violence. My father harassed and beat. I thought I won’t suffer that, as well as my mother. I suffered three years of violence from my world. I didn’t even know what violence is actually. Physically abused me. I was silent and I thought it was good and that he wanted to make me a real woman. No violence should be suffering. If I hadn’t entered the NGO sector, I wouldn’t know what was all the work, “she said, then added:
“One occasion is me and my son the saintly beat. I went to the police, but the war went … I would never suffer anything now. And I’m telling every girl not to suffer. Now there is government and we need to protect each other. Murders may not happen. “
Statistics
From the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the N1, they said that the last processed data refer to 2023. year.
Total number of marriages in 2023. year amounted to 17.024, while in 2022. year was 17,427, and 2021. year 17.835.
But when it comes to the number of persons who entered the marriage under 18, the static is like this: 2023. It was 39 people, 2022. year 50, while 2021 were 57 years.
The BiH Statistical Agency for N1 sent an accurate number of minors that came into marriage during 2023, 2022, 2021. years.
In 2023, there were 36 (12 of them had 16 years in marriage, and 24 girls had 17 years old)
2022 was 49 (3 of them had 15 years in marriage, 14 girls had 16, and 32 were 17 years old)
In 2021, there were 56 (22 were 16 years old, and 34 were 17 years old)
But the number of juveniles who entered the marriage is significantly lower. So, in 2023. There were only three minors, while 2022. and 2021. were only one. And it is important to point out that everyone was 17 in the conclusion of marriage.
But as they explained to us in response to the final data for 2024. year are not yet available, because they are in the phase of collection and processing. However, according to preliminary data for the third quarter, in BiH, from January to September 2024. 12,320 marriages were concluded, which is a decrease of 3.60% compared to the same period in 2023. years.
Bajramović: The community must be included
Indira Bajramović, President of the Women’s Association Roma woman “Better future” for N1 also spoke on this topic.
“We still have no right statistics, because institutions do not respond to an adequate way. The problem is and what a minor is considered up to 18, but if marriage happens to 16 years, the law allows those things. With the court eventually make a decision. It is important to note that the girl must perform some examinations such as gynecological, psychological etc, “she said.
Then she added:
“The law in the RS says that from 16 years, everything is fine and legal. Children’s marriages also happen to families not Roma. What the early marriage is mentioned immediately is associated with Roma communities. But it does not only happen in Roma communities. It has proved that there is more and more in rural areas. “
Among other things, Bajramović stated how they do everything that the number of juvenile marriages are even more reduced.
“We try to reduce that number. We cannot stop, but the institutions should be included in resolving this problem. Social cases are created. They are not ready to take care of themselves, not a family. In every community, such cases can be found. When you ask what young people are married, they often answer that they fell in love. There were cases where we suspended the contracted marriages together with the police and social services. Judicial institutions cannot act until they get alerts. The community must be included. It has definitely an shift unlike a few years ago. The shift is because it is done intensively and talks to this topic, “said Bajramović for N1.
What does the law say?
Thus, the RS family law is stated that the Court “for justified reasons” may allow a minor marriage to an older than 16 years old, “if it finds that this is a person’s physical and mentions arising from marriage.”
The provisions shall state that the minor may request a marriage permit, and that the court before making a decision, the “opinion of the competent guardianship authority”.
What kind of penalties are predicted?
According to the Federation Laws of the Federation of BiH (FBiH), the Republic of Srpska (RS) and Brčko District, minorities are not allowed to assemble the person with the age of 16 years, which is determined to be physically capable of exercising rights and duties arising in the marital community.
The FBiH and Brčko District Criminal Law is the prison sentence for three months for adults living in an extramarital community with a person under the age of 16, as well as for parents, ie the juvenile person or it .
We note, the mentioned Law in the FBiH and Brčko District for the guidance of juveniles to marriage from the use of a prison for a six-month imprisonment, for five years.
RS Criminal Code for an adult in an extramarital community with a person under 16 years of age and parent that enabled this, a close prison for up to two years, and if a parent or guardian is enabled by a minor from the usefulness, for has been threatened with a fine of up to three years in prison.
Children’s marriages are not just statistics
Children’s marriages are not just statistics, but a reality that destroys the lives of young girls. Although the shifts are visible, the fight has not yet been completed. Each girl deserves the right to education, freedom and future, and we must ensure that none is forced to live life that is not her choice. The fight lasts but change is possible if we all work together, writes N1 BiH.
