The “End to bride on sale, honour killings, early marriage” project, launched within the scope of Social Support Program (SODES) in Viranþehir District of Urfa, will continue this year also. The project was run in 50 villages last year and supported by Flying Women's Center and SODES.

The project was first introduced in October 2009 and ended on 28 October. The project was launched in Viranþehir a city with a population of 120.000 to raise awareness and train families about the subject and visited a number of villages. A 9-person team of doctors, nurses, mufti and imams visited 50 villages and gave lectures.

Flying Broom Women's Center said the project will continue in 2011. Viransehir Turkish Religious Foundation-Union President and imam Mehmet Ülgen expressed that the project’s aim is to raise the awareness of society that early marriage of girls and practices in social restructuring such as honour killings, bride price, bride exchange marriages, nonperformance of civil marriage do not conform with a modern society.

Trainings on avoidance of early marriage of girls and various presentations and demonstrations on the subject will take place within the scope of the project which also consists quarterly theatre and sketch performing on the subject to be displayed in elementary schools halls and village squares. The project is intended to end in June 2011.

Translation: Berna Ozgencil