Last year, the shocking case of juvenile marriage in Blue sparked a heated debate about children, cultural traditions, and the effectiveness of relevant institutions. A four-year-old girl from Gusinje was married to a 45-year-old man from Blue, despite legal prohibitions and societal disapproval.

According to the Center for Social Work in Plav, authorities responded swiftly after the marriage was reported. The girl was returned to her family to safeguard her rights. However, complications arose when the girl returned to her husband, stating that it was her own choice.

This case raises numerous questions. How capable are institutions in effectively preventing such occurrences? How do we strike a balance between safeguarding the rights of girls and honoring traditional customs? Experts caution that minors, even if they appear to consent, may not possess the maturity needed to make decisions with long-lasting implications.

The Center for Social Work and the Police assert that they acted according to the law, yet it is clear that legal measures alone are insufficient. A broader societal approach is required, encompassing education, family empowerment, and a reevaluation of traditional practices that threaten children’s rights.

The lingering question is how many similar cases go unnoticed and how many girls grow up in environments that subject them to silent suffering between tradition and legal protections.

(Telegraph.rs/Sandzak Today)