27/05/2026
Policy Recommendations on Early Marriages and Early Motherhood in Roma Communities 🌍👩👧👧
A synthesis was prepared within the framework of the Erasmus+ project “Roma Influencers – Breaking the Circle of Early Marriages and Early Motherhood in Roma Communities”, funded by the European Union 🇪🇺. It draws on the national policy recommendation reports produced by the project partners in Greece 🇬🇷, Ireland 🇮🇪, Romania 🇷🇴 and Portugal 🇵🇹, following the methodological orientations established for National Policy Recommendations (https://www.romainfluencersnetwork.eu/library-deliverables/ under Work Package 3, Activity 3.4).
The document (https://www.romainfluencersnetwork.eu/library-deliverables/ under Work Package 3, Activity 3.4 Transnational Policy Recommendations) identifies the main common findings, structural challenges and policy priorities emerging across the four national contexts, while also highlighting country-specific approaches and recommendations. It adopts a rights-based ⚖️, intersectional 🌐 and community-centred 🤝 perspective, aligned with European frameworks on Roma inclusion, children’s rights 👶, gender equality ♀️ and anti-discrimination 🚫.
The comparative analysis of the national reports from Greece, Ireland, Romania and Portugal demonstrates that early marriage and early motherhood in Roma communities are multidimensional social phenomena rooted in structural inequalities and social exclusion 📉.
Although legal frameworks on child marriage exist in all four countries ⚖️, legislation alone is insufficient to address the problem. Sustainable prevention requires integrated, rights-based and participatory approaches 🤝 capable of addressing the broader social determinants affecting Roma girls and young women.
A particularly important shared message is the need to avoid stigmatizing or culturally reductive interpretations 🚫. Early marriage and early motherhood must be understood within the broader context of poverty 💔, exclusion, discrimination and limited opportunities, also taking into account the role of perinatal and epigenetic factors 🧬, as living conditions before, during and after pregnancy—such as poverty, chronic stress, limited access to care 🏥, education 📚 and social support 🤍—not only affect the current health of both mother and child 👩👧, but also influence future developmental opportunities 🌱.
The reports also highlight the importance of directly involving Roma communities in the design and implementation of solutions 🤝. Roma women’s lived experiences, leadership 👩💼 and participation are central to developing effective and sustainable interventions.
Finally, the synthesis emphasizes that meaningful progress requires long-term political commitment 🏛️, sustained public investment 💰, and strong cooperation between governments, public services, civil society organizations and Roma communities themselves. Only through coordinated and inclusive approaches can cycles of exclusion be broken and opportunities expanded for Roma girls and young women across Europe 🌍✨. https://www.romainfluencersnetwork.eu/library-deliverables/
