Cases: minors, even those under the age of 14, involved in conjugal ties performed according to traditional rites of their culture, indicted for violation of statutory rape (criminal law).

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Cultural test

Legal Insights

Anthropological insights

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Proposed balancing act: The cultural practice of marriages with or between statutory minors requires a balancing act between cultural rights, children's rights and the child's individual sexual freedom. Even when the legal limits appear insuperable, the relationship of traditional marriage and/or cohabitation established with or between minors should be assessed from the perspective of the minor's choice and in relation to the cultural context in which he or she has grown up, especially if through this bond it aims to build forms of personal and family fulfillment. The minor's sexual freedom and cultural identity should prevail in all those cases where no adverse situation is apparent (e.g. lack of consent of the minor, situations of exploitation and abuse in the marriage relationship).

Bibliographic references

​Legal Bibliography
 
Bonfanti, A. (2020). Matrimoni forzati, infantili e precoci e tutela dei diritti umani in Europa: considerazioni di diritto internazionale privato. GenIUS, 2.
Campiglio, C. Il matrimonio in età precoce nel diritto internazionale privato. In Rivista di diritto internazionale privato e processuale, 4.
Pesce, F. (2021). I child marriages tra tutela dei diritti e portabilità degli status. In Diritti umani e diritto internazionale, Fascicolo 1, gennaio-aprile.
Ruggiu, Ilenia (2022). Reati culturalmente motivati in Brasile: il caso di stupro-non stupro presso gli indios Guaranì (con riflessioni sui matrimoni precoci Rom). In Stato, chiese e pluralismo confessionale, www.statoechiese.it fascicolo n. 3/22, pp. 61-86 (rivista telematica open source).
 
Anthropological bibliography (recommended reading)
 
Busoni, M. (2001). Il valore delle spose. Beni e persone in antropologia economica. Roma: Meltemi Editore.
 
An essential text for understanding what practices and meanings characterise marriage in various cultural contexts. It is an excellent analysis of the economic value of marriage, especially useful for understanding the functional value of marital relationships.
 
Anthropological bibliography (for more details)
 
D'Aloiso, F. (2007). Non sono tempi per fare figli. Orientamenti e comportamenti riproduttivi nella bassa feconità italiana. Milano: Guerini Scientifica.
Gilliland, M. K. (2020). "Family and marriage." In Perspectives: An Open Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (pp. 182-203). Arlington: American Anthropological Association.
Peano, G. (2013). Bambini rom, alunni rom. Un’etnografia della scuola. Roma: CISU.
Piasere, L. (2018). I rom d’Europa. Una storia moderna. Bari-Roma: Laterza.
Schaffnit, S. B., & David, W. L. (2021). "Married Too Young? The Behavioral Ecology of ‘Child Marriage’." Social Sciences, 10(161).
Tosi Cambini, S. (2008). La zingara rapitrice. Racconti, denunce, sentenze (1986-2007). Roma: CISU.
Tosi Cambini, S. (2015). "Matrimoni romané e interpretazioni gagikané nello spazio pubblico, giuridico e scientifico dei gagé." L’Uomo, 1, 55-76.
Valentza, C. (2020). "Early Marriage and Education Drop Out in Traditional Roma Communities in Transylvania." Journal of Gypsy Studies, 2(1), 39-54.