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Representatives of the municipal administrations and the local institutions in Veliko Tarnovo district, Roma activists and Community moderators participated in a training of mediation amongst multicultural community, as the accent was put on prevention of Early marriages in Roma community. The training was organized by Center “Amalipe” from 26 to 28 of January, 2016 in the town of Lyaskovets. The aim was that institutions together with activists to talk about the problems of “Early Marriages”, to overcome the stereotypes  which everyone has towards the others and to plan activities together  for overcoming Early Marriages/ couples living together in Veliko Tarnovo district.

There were 40 participants at the training who were representatives from different institutions – inspectors from Juvenile Delinquency Commission, police inspectors from Regional Police Gorna Oryahovitsa and Regional Police Veliko Tarnovo, representatives of the local Commission for Child Protection, representatives from the municipalities in the district, Community Moderators from Center “Amalipe”, child psychologist, Prosecutor from Regional Prosecution Service Pavlikeni. Guesta were Mr. Dimitar Topalov – Deputy Mayor of Rakitovo Municipality, Mr Rujdi Mehmedov -  municipal councilor in Peshtera, professionals and volunteers working at Roma community.

The participant discussed the current state of the problems at Veliko Tarnovo district. It turned out they are proud with their significant achievements. After 2010 when Center “Amalipe” and the institutions began targeted field work for prevention of Early Marriages and especially after founding the Centers for Developing of the Community in Pavlikeni, Veliko Tarnovo, Strazhitsa and other municipalities, joint living between under aged and juveniles have been reduced significantly. In Pavlikeni municipality in 2009 we had 18 cases subject of the prosecution service and in 2015 – only 4. This was what prosecutor Atanas Fillipov stated. Despite those cases there aren’t school drop outs. Cases of Early Marriages in Strazhitsa municipality were reduced significantly: in 2015 cases like these were only observed amongst burgudjii in Kamen village and the Muslim Roma in Asenovo village ( 2 registered cases), in Strazhitsa and the rest of the villages, many of which have compact minority, it has been more than 2 years of no Early Marriages. In Veliko Tarnovo and Gorna Oryahovitsa municipalities there are still Early Marriages in burgudjii Roma in Kaltinets neighborhood, as well as some Roma – Muslims ( for instance, Vodoley and Ledenik villages).

The main reasons for reduction of the joint living between minors and juveniles are two according to the participants. One of them is the activity of the community moderators from the Centers of developing of the Community. They develop multiple activities on the field amongst Roma community, big part of which are targeting the prevention of Early Marriages and the reaction amongst them. Another reason is that after 2010 the institutions have started to react on those cases, moreover, collaborating with the community moderators “The people are not criminals” prosecutor Filipov assured. “When you explain what offence they have committed then they react reasonably.”

Teodora Krumova presented the results from the study conducted in March, 2015 in regards to the state and tendencies in Early Marriages amongst Roma community from Veliko Tarnovo municipality. It confirms the results and tendencies categorically registered in 2010 for change which is happening in the community. For example over 50% of the participants in the survey state that children have to complete their secondary education before creating family. Very often the reason for Early Marriages is the lack of perspective and opportunity for children and parents to dream for better future. In this sense, the support from the majority is of great importance.  It is necessary not to stigmatize the community and girls who subject to Early Marriages. Not all effort have happy end. However, every child who was saved is a great success because that is one destiny which was saved and when we team efforts then the success is guaranteed.

All participant planned joint activities for the year ahead. All local institutions will participate together, including police service and prosecution service, schools and community moderators from the Centers for Developing of the Community. The guests of the training from municipalities outside Veliko Tarnovo stated their willingness to fulfill similar activities and received reassurance for cooperation for these activities to be multiplied in their regions.

The training was realized as part of the project “Early Marriages – Culture or Abuse”, financed by the Programme Daphne of the European Union.

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