Editing Child marriage (section)

====Balkans/Eastern Europe====
In these areas, child and forced marriages are associated with the [[Romani people|Roma]] community and with some rural populations. However, such marriages are illegal in most of the countries from that area. In recent years, many of those countries have taken steps in order to curb these practices, including equalizing the marriageable age of both sexes (e.g. Romania in 2007, Ukraine in 2012). Therefore, most of those 'marriages' are informal unions (without legal recognition) and often arranged from very young ages. Such practices are common in Serbia,<ref>[https://www.unicef.org/serbia/en/child-marriage-among-roma-population-serbia "Child marriages in the Roma population in Serbia"], UNICEF, 2017.</ref> Bulgaria and Romania<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4972768/Romanian-gypsy-children-become-engaged-aged-six-and-four.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4972768/Romanian-gypsy-children-become-engaged-aged-six-and-four.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Romanian gypsy children become engaged aged six and four|date=11 March 2009|access-date=2018-03-03|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/early-marriage-deters-lesser-roma-girls-from-school-in-bulgaria-02-22-2016|title=Bulgarian Roma Girls Still Quitting School Young|access-date=2018-03-03|date=22 February 2016}}</ref> (in these countries the marriageable age is 18, and can only be lowered to 16 in special circumstances with judicial approval<ref>[https://advokatiubeogradu.rs/zakoni/PORODICNI-ZAKON-REPUBLIKE-SRBIJE.pdf Porodični zakon Republike Srbije] "The Family Law of The Republic of Serbia: Article 23" (in Serbian), 2005.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FAMILY CODE |url=https://kenarova.com/law/Family%20Code.pdf |access-date=3 November 2023 |website=kenarova.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://legeaz.net/noul-cod-civil/art-272-varsta-matrimoniala-conditiile-de-fond-pentru-incheierea-casatoriei-incheierea-casatoriei|title=Art. 272 Noul cod civil Vârsta matrimonială Condiţiile de fond pentru încheierea căsătoriei Încheierea căsătoriei|access-date=2018-03-03}}</ref>). A 2003 case involving the daughter of an informal 'gypsy king' of the area has made international news.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3159818.stm|title=Gypsy child couple separated|date=2 October 2003|access-date=2018-03-03|publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>