Most of them are poor communities, families living on the edge of existence and vulnerable and discriminated members of society.
Cases that indicate the urgency of social reaction when it comes to forced marriages in BiH are numerous, and girls are sold through arranged marriages for up to 15,000 KM.
Mirsada Bajramović, a child protection expert from Tuzla, says that in practice they have already encountered a large number of underage marriages.
“Some of the most extreme ones are that a 12-year-old girl was sold for a ‘golf couple’ through this so-called underage marriage. We also had a case where a girl was unfortunately sold for 1,500 KM. Prices for girls through these arranged marriages range from 600 KM to 15,000 KM”, stated Mirsada Bajramović.
Aleksandra Marin Diklić from the Institution of Ombudsman for Human Rights of Bosnia and Herzegovina pointed out that the legislative framework in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, requires urgent changes in order to improve the protection of minors.
She pointed out the importance of harmonizing the criminal legislation of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with international standards, such as the Lanzarote Convention, which has already been implemented in the RS.
“In addition to the education system, security structures, the police and mental health centers must also be involved,” emphasized Marin Diklić.
(Vijesti.ba)
