Forced Marriage

A forced marriage is one in which one or both people do not freely consent, or cannot consent, and pressure or abuse is used.

Forced marriage is a safeguarding concern and a serious abuse of human rights. Pressure can be physical, sexual, emotional, psychological or financial, and may include threats, violence, isolation or coercive control.

In England and Wales, causing a child to marry before their 18th birthday is a criminal offence even where coercion is not used. The legal framework differs across the UK.

See the latest Forced Marriage Unit statistics and the current government forced marriage guidance.

For further help, see Freedom Charity’s helpline and Dishonour Abuse information. Schools, families and professionals can also explore But It’s Not Fair.

FORCED MARRIAGE VS ARRANGED MARRIAGE

An arranged marriage and a forced marriage are not the same. In an arranged marriage, families or others may help introduce a potential partner, but both people remain free to accept or refuse the match. In a forced marriage, one or both people do not freely consent, or cannot consent, and pressure or abuse is used.

The right to choose whether, when and whom to marry is fundamental. Culture, religion or family expectations do not remove that right.

Freedom Charity has campaigned against forced marriage and for stronger legal protection. In England and Wales, forcing someone to marry can lead to a prison sentence of up to seven years. The legal framework differs across the UK.

Read the current government forced marriage guidance. You can also apply for a Forced Marriage Protection Order.

Zara’s story

I was only 14 when my parents tried to send me away to be forced into a marriage. I was terrified; I didn’t want to leave my life in England, my friends, my family. Why did they want me to marry a man I’d never met? It didn’t make any sense, I felt scared and alone.

Freedom Charity supported Zara to reach safety and avoid the forced marriage.

Forced Marriage: Law, Risk and Safeguarding

Forced marriage is a serious abuse of human rights and a safeguarding concern. It can involve physical violence, threats, emotional or psychological pressure, financial abuse, isolation, coercive control or exploitation.

Forced marriage and UK law

Forced marriage is illegal across the UK, although the legal framework differs by jurisdiction. The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 created the forced-marriage offence in England, Wales and Scotland; Northern Ireland has separate legislation. In England and Wales, the law also covers doing anything intended to cause a child to marry before their eighteenth birthday, whether or not coercion is used.

Forcing someone to marry can lead to a prison sentence of up to seven years. Forced Marriage Protection Orders can also be used to protect people at risk.

Warning signs

Possible warning signs can include sudden absence from school or work, restrictions on movement or communication, fear about an overseas trip, disclosure of family pressure to marry, removal of a passport, surveillance by relatives, or a sudden engagement that the person does not appear to want.

Respond safely

Do not approach family members or attempt mediation where forced marriage is suspected. This can increase risk. Follow safeguarding procedures, consider immediate safety, and seek specialist advice. Professionals should use the current government multi-agency forced-marriage guidance.

Forced marriage can cross borders and affect people of different ages, backgrounds, faiths and communities. The defining issue is the absence of free and full consent.

Reviewed 13 September 2026 against current GOV.UK forced-marriage guidance and Forced Marriage Unit statistics.

POSSIBLE WARNING SIGNS OF FORCED MARRIAGE

No two forced-marriage cases are the same. Possible warning signs should be considered in context and alongside the person’s own words, behaviour and circumstances. A concern does not prove that a forced marriage is planned, but it may indicate that safeguarding advice is needed.

Seems anxious and depressed and not interested in life.

Seem withdrawn and reluctant to talk about what is going on in his or her family or about family members.

Tell you that some of his or her brothers or sisters have been married at a very young age.

Appear to be suffering from mood swings and presenting challenging behaviour or attention seeking. This may mean getting into trouble at school.

Start self-harming or develop an eating disorder such as anorexia.

Lose interest in continuing their education and take little interest in homework.

Have their movements restricted by family members.

Simply not come to school at all but at the same time not have told you that they are ill.

Disappear suddenly or stop attending school, college or work without explanation.

For schools, families and professionals: But It’s Not Fair is Freedom Charity’s educational novel about forced marriage, consent and coercion. View the book, school resources and class-set options.

PRACTICAL WAYS TO HELP A FRIEND

If you are worried that a friend may be at risk of forced marriage, tell a trusted safeguarding professional such as a teacher, designated safeguarding lead, social worker or the police. Do not confront family members or try to mediate: this can increase risk.

Risk can increase around overseas travel and school or college holidays. If someone fears they may be taken abroad to marry, seek specialist advice as early as possible from the Forced Marriage Unit and follow current safeguarding guidance. In an emergency, call 999.

Practical safety planning may help, but the person at risk should not be left to manage the danger alone. Useful steps can include:

Make sure they have a phone or SIM card that works abroad.

Make sure that they agree a secret code so that you know that it is them texting or contacting you rather than somebody else using their phone.

Agree a secret set of words that you will know will mean they are in trouble and need help but which no one else will suspect, for example, ‘What’s happening on Hollyoaks?’

Agree when to raise the alarm. If you believe they are in immediate danger, tell a safeguarding professional or the police even if you cannot contact them.

Before they go, tell them to try to get an address or at least the area of the country they are going to and the names of the family members they are visiting.

Tell them to leave a note of their passport number and the full names of their parents and any adult siblings with you to keep in a safe place.

Give them the number of the Forced Marriage Unit and ask them to memorise it.

Make sure that they have the address of the British Embassy or High Commission in the country they are going to – you can get this here or from us.

Make sure you have a current picture of them downloaded to your phone that you can access if their social media is deleted

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