Last year, basic courts in Montenegro received 20 requests for juvenile marriages, and in the last 4 years there was a total of 95. Of these, only three applications were rejected, which, according to the director of the Montenegrin Women’s Lobby, Aida Petrovic, violated children’s rights.
The modern way of life and the difficult economic situation have influenced most young couples to delay the legalization of their relationship and get married. However, juvenile marriages still exist, the court data shows, Dnevne Novine reports.
The largest number of requests for the approval of juvenile marriages in the last 4 years was in Rozaje (21, all of which were approved), Podgorica (19, two were rejected and one still processed), Bijelo Polje (11, one request forwarded to another competent authority), Berane (11, one withdrawn) and Plav (11, all approved).
According to the data, applicants in these cases were 16-16 years old. They mostly cited emotions and pregnancy as reasons for getting married.
As Petrovic said, most of the couples were of Roma population who enter into pre-arranged marriages.
