Branimir Bunjac, MP of the opposition populist party Zivi Zid, warned at the start of a parliamentary session on Wednesday that Roma girls in the northern region of Medjimurje are often sold as young brides as early as 15, and called on state institutions, ministries and MPs to join a campaign to raise awareness of this problem.

“Parents of the Bajasi Roma in Medjimurje sell girls as young brides as soon as they reach the age of 15 or earlier, even though such relationships are rarely legalised,” Bunjac said.

Bunjevac added that the average price of a Roma bride is 15,000 kuna (€2,000), and that this results in a large number of underage mothers, with many giving birth to their first child as early as 12.

Every bride sold, especially those who have children, must leave school, and some even have three or four children by the time they are 20, which then completes the vicious circle of poverty in the Roma community, said Bunjac.

This is the reason why a growing number of Roma girls become runaways and seek help in foster families, Bunjac added.

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