The Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Milan Antonijević, took part in the 18th meeting of the National Coalition to End Child Marriage, organized by the Office of Minister without Portfolio Tatjana Macura, responsible for coordinating activities in the field of gender equality, prevention of violence against women, and the economic and political empowerment of women, in cooperation with the co-chairing organization Ternipe, with the support of UNICEF.

Although the law prohibits child marriages, the reality on the ground shows that poverty and patriarchy continue to steal childhoods, leaving lasting consequences for the physical and mental health of girls. The fact that as many as 56% of girls in Roma communities in Serbia marry before reaching adulthood shows that more needs to be done in the areas of prevention, information, and education, especially at the local level.

At the meeting, the Commissioner presented proposals for activities that the Commissioner’s institution could implement in 2026, including incorporating the topic of prevention and elimination of child marriages into training for employees in centers for social work and the police, as well as issuing recommendations of measures to schools to respond to and report any suspicion of child marriage. Antonijević emphasized that institutions and civil society share a common task – to remove barriers and ensure that every child in Serbia has the right to education and freedom of choice.

At the meeting, the 2026 work plan, the activities of the Women’s Roma Network, and an initiative to promote the Coalition’s activities on the “I protect you” platform were presented.