Freedom Charity · Law and protection
Know the law. Find protection.
A practical guide to the law on forced marriage, FGM, Dishonour Abuse, virginity testing and hymenoplasty — including criminal offences, civil protection orders, professional duties, prosecutions and the difference between Freedom’s campaigning and national legal reform.
Find the law that applies
Knowing which law applies can help someone reach the right service sooner. The sections below distinguish a criminal offence from a civil protection order, explain the different ages in law, and link to official legislation and application guidance.
Is someone in immediate danger? Call 999 in the UK. For forced marriage advice, the UK government’s Forced Marriage Unit can be contacted on 020 7008 0151 (Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm). The official page gives current out-of-hours and overseas arrangements.
Freedom provides information and routes to safeguarding help. Do not send sensitive case information through a public fundraising or general enquiry form.
Age and consent
The age of consent for sexual activity, the age at which someone can marry, the age relevant to FGM reporting and whether a person can agree to a harmful practice are different legal questions. They must not be treated as interchangeable.
Since 27 February 2023, the minimum age to marry or form a civil partnership in England and Wales is 18. Parental permission does not allow a 16- or 17-year-old to marry there. Conduct intended to cause a child to marry before 18 is also specifically criminalised under the applicable law, even without proof of coercion.
The general age of consent for sexual activity is 16. That does not make sexual activity lawful where a person is coerced, lacks freedom or capacity to consent, or where an offence involving a position of trust applies. Children under 13 cannot legally consent to sexual activity.
In England and Wales, specified regulated health and social-care professionals and teachers must personally report defined known cases of FGM identified in a girl under 18 to the police. This is not a rule that FGM becomes lawful at 18: FGM is a criminal offence regardless of the person’s age, subject to the law’s narrow exceptions for legitimate medical procedures.
The UK-wide offences prohibit carrying out, offering or assisting virginity testing or hymenoplasty under the Health and Care Act 2022. The person’s apparent agreement does not make either procedure lawful. They must not be confused with legitimate healthcare or a sexual-consent age.
The UK does not have one marriage-age rule. As checked on 25 September 2026, Scotland’s marriage and civil-partnership minimum remains 16. Northern Ireland’s minimum also remains 16, with the relevant consent requirements for 16- and 17-year-olds; its proposal to raise the age to 18 is a Bill, not yet enacted law. Forced marriage is unlawful under the applicable legislation in every UK nation regardless of marriage age.
Scottish Government: marriage-age law ↗ · Northern Ireland Assembly: Bill status ↗
For children, adults who lack capacity, people at risk of being taken abroad and those facing immediate threats, seek specialist advice rather than relying on a general statement about age. Read Freedom’s forced-marriage guide or find safeguarding help.
Forced marriage
In England and Wales, forced marriage became a specific criminal offence on 16 June 2014 under section 121 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Since 27 February 2023 the law also criminalises conduct intended to cause a child to marry before 18 even where coercion is not proved. The principal offence can carry up to seven years’ imprisonment.
Forced Marriage Protection Orders are a separate civil protection route. They can prevent travel, require passports to be surrendered, restrict contact and impose other conditions. Breach is itself a criminal offence in England and Wales carrying up to five years’ imprisonment.
Scotland has its own FMPO legislation and the section 122 forced-marriage offence. Northern Ireland has a separate legal framework. The marriage age differs across UK nations: the England and Wales minimum is 18, while Scotland and Northern Ireland currently have a minimum of 16, with Northern Ireland’s proposed change to 18 still before the Assembly as of 25 September 2026. A lawful marriage age never gives anyone the right to force another person to marry.
A person at risk or already in a forced marriage can ask about a Forced Marriage Protection Order in England and Wales. The family court may impose tailored conditions, including protection against being taken overseas; urgent without-notice orders are available. The official guidance explains forms, legal aid and how to apply. Do not wait for a completed criminal prosecution to seek advice about protection.
Female genital mutilation
FGM is illegal throughout the UK. In England and Wales the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 creates the main offences. The Serious Crime Act 2015 strengthened protection by introducing FGM Protection Orders, lifelong anonymity, the failure-to-protect offence and the mandatory-reporting duty.
Core FGM offences can carry up to 14 years’ imprisonment. FGM Protection Orders are civil orders designed to prevent or respond to risk; breach can lead to criminal prosecution and up to five years’ imprisonment.
Since 31 October 2015, specified teachers and regulated health and social-care professionals in England and Wales must personally report defined known cases of FGM in girls under 18 to police. Suspected or at-risk cases are handled through normal safeguarding routes rather than the specific mandatory-reporting duty. The reporting rule concerns known FGM identified in someone who is under 18; it does not mean abuse becomes lawful at 18.
An FGM Protection Order (FGMPO) can be sought in the family court in England and Wales to protect someone at risk or who has already undergone FGM. It may include restrictions on travel and other tailored safeguards. The court can make an urgent order without notice where justified, and applications have no court fee. The order is separate from police investigation and prosecution.
Consent does not make FGM lawful. The law has limited exceptions for legitimate medical procedures. For advice on whether a procedure is lawful or on safeguarding duties, consult the official multi-agency FGM guidance and the legislation.
Dishonour Abuse
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 contains provisions for statutory guidance about “honour”-based abuse in England and Wales. Section 144 sets out the definition for that guidance, and section 143 provides for guidance to public authorities. At this page’s review on 25 September 2026, the official legislation record marked both sections as prospective. The new guidance framework must not be described as an operative duty before the relevant provisions have commenced and guidance has been issued.
This does not create a standalone HBA crime. Police and prosecutors still use the substantive offences that fit the conduct: assault, controlling or coercive behaviour, threats, sexual offences, forced marriage, FGM, stalking, harassment, false imprisonment, homicide and others.
Virginity testing
The Health and Care Act 2022 created UK-wide offences covering the carrying out, offering and aiding or abetting of virginity testing and hymenoplasty. The offences have extra-territorial reach in specified circumstances and carry a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.
Virginity testing is an examination carried out, or claimed to be carried out, to determine whether a woman or girl has had sexual intercourse. No examination can establish whether someone has had sex. The appearance of the hymen is not reliable evidence of sexual history, as explained by the World Health Organization and the UK government’s guidance. Consent does not make a virginity test lawful.
Hymenoplasty is the reconstruction of the hymen. Carrying out, offering or assisting it is prohibited under the UK-wide offences, including where the person requests or agrees to it. A medically indicated procedure for a different clinical purpose is not automatically the prohibited procedure; healthcare professionals must assess the actual indication and the statutory definition. For both offences, the law can apply to specified conduct involving UK nationals or residents abroad.
Anyone under pressure to undergo a test or procedure should be able to seek advice safely. Professionals should follow safeguarding guidance and must not promise secrecy where a child or adult is at serious risk. Read the UK government’s current multi-agency guidance.
Orders
A protection order is not the same as a criminal conviction. Family courts can act on risk to prevent harm while police and prosecutors investigate criminal offences. FMPOs and FGMPOs can therefore be used before a criminal case is complete and, depending on circumstances, before the threatened marriage or FGM occurs.
Protects someone at risk of or already in a forced marriage. England and Wales applications are free and can be urgent and without notice.
Protects someone at risk of FGM or who has already undergone it. It can restrict travel, contact and other conduct.
Breaching these orders can itself be a criminal offence. Report a suspected breach to police.
Getting practical protection
A civil protection order can help prevent harm even when the police have not completed an investigation. The right action depends on the person’s circumstances, their location, immediate danger and whether a child or adult is involved. Do not contact relatives or attempt family mediation where doing so could increase risk.
In England and Wales, an FMPO is a family-court order tailored to someone at risk of a forced marriage or already in one. Conditions can prevent travel, restrict contact, require the surrender of travel documents and address other risks. The person to be protected, an authorised third party or someone with the court’s permission may be able to apply.
GOV.UK explains the application process, forms, court fees and urgent orders ↗.
In England and Wales, an FGMPO may protect a girl or woman at risk of FGM or someone who has already undergone it. Orders are tailored to the case and may protect against being taken abroad or subjected to pressure by relatives or other people. An application can be made by the person needing protection, a relevant third party such as a local authority, or another person with the court’s permission.
HM Courts & Tribunals Service explains eligibility, forms and urgent applications ↗.
Where there is an immediate risk, a family court may be asked to consider an application without giving advance notice to the proposed respondent. The court decides whether the circumstances justify that step. A later hearing normally allows the respondent to be heard. Seek specialist assistance if it is unsafe to complete or serve documents yourself.
HMCTS provides forms and guidance for both orders. If revealing an applicant’s address or contact details would create risk, ask about confidential details and the appropriate court procedure. The relevant FGMPO application form is FGM001; additional permission may be needed for another person applying. Court applications for these orders have no fee in England and Wales, and legal aid may be available depending on the matter and eligibility.
FGMPO form and court guidance ↗ · FMPO application guidance ↗.
An order does not replace safeguarding or a criminal investigation. Call 999 in an emergency. If there are concerns about a child, follow your organisation’s safeguarding process and seek advice from children’s social care or police as appropriate. If there is a forced-marriage risk involving travel or someone abroad, contact the Forced Marriage Unit for specialist advice. Do not tell a person facing risk to confront family members or hand over their passport.
A suspected breach of a protection order should be reported promptly to police. A family court may also deal with a breach through its contempt powers, but the same breach is not punished twice through both routes.
Professionals can use Freedom’s safeguarding information alongside government forced-marriage guidance and the FGM statutory guidance. People seeking confidential support can begin with Freedom’s helpline information.
Prosecutions
CPS case studies record prosecutions for the forced-marriage offence and for breaches of protection orders. The prosecution history also shows that other offences may be charged where they better reflect the conduct.
A mother was convicted in England and Wales of FGM carried out on a young girl and was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment.
The CPS records the second FGM conviction in England and Wales as a case involving assistance to commit FGM overseas.
Emad Kaky was convicted of conspiracy to commit FGM and forced marriage after arranging for a child to travel from the UK to Iraq. The intended harm was prevented before it occurred.
Prosecution counts do not measure prevalence. These crimes are often hidden and barriers to reporting can be severe.
Forced-marriage law, orders and cases FGM law, orders and cases
Professional duties
Investigate offences, assess immediate risk, protect evidence, consider orders, work across borders and avoid investigative steps that increase danger.
Use child and adult safeguarding powers, assess wider family risk, coordinate multi-agency protection and understand personal reporting duties where applicable.
Follow safeguarding duties, recognise travel and family risk, understand the FGM reporting duty and avoid unsafe parental contact.
Provide care, record accurately, fulfil reporting and safeguarding duties, identify related abuse and refer to specialist services.
Adult status does not remove safeguarding risk. Forced marriage, HBA and family control can affect students through finance, travel, accommodation and immigration.
Consider urgent civil remedies, criminal referral, legal aid, capacity, confidentiality and cross-border issues.
Freedom and law reform
Freedom has campaigned for stronger protection, provided Parliamentary evidence, educated young people and professionals, developed public campaigns and spoken publicly about gaps in law and practice. Its record includes forced-marriage criminalisation campaigning, evidence to Parliament, the Freedom App, FGM prevention work, the Red Triangle, and campaigning against virginity testing and hymenoplasty.
Freedom does not claim that national laws were created by one charity. Legislation results from Parliament, government, survivors, campaigners, professionals, public bodies and many organisations. Freedom’s website records the part it can evidence.
Questions about the law
Not in England and Wales: the minimum marriage and civil-partnership age is 18, and parental permission does not change that. As checked on 25 September 2026, Scotland’s minimum is 16. Northern Ireland’s minimum is also 16 with the relevant consent requirements for 16- and 17-year-olds; a Bill to raise it to 18 is not yet law. The forced-marriage rules apply separately wherever coercion is involved. Marriage law: England and Wales ↗ · Northern Ireland Bill status ↗.
No. In England and Wales the general age of consent for sexual activity is 16, while the age to marry is 18. Sexual consent must still be freely given with capacity, and other offences may apply, including where a person is in a position of trust. Children under 13 cannot legally consent to sexual activity. CPS guidance on sexual offences ↗.
Yes. In England and Wales an FMPO can protect someone at risk of a forced marriage, including with conditions about travel, passports or contact where appropriate. The family court can consider an urgent application without notice if the circumstances justify it. How to apply for an FMPO ↗.
An FGMPO is a family-court order in England and Wales tailored to protecting a person at risk of FGM or someone who has already undergone it. The person to be protected can apply, and certain third parties can apply under the applicable rules; others may need the court’s permission. The court can act urgently where necessary. Official court guidance and forms ↗.
No. In England and Wales, the specific mandatory reporting duty applies to defined known cases identified by specified regulated professionals and teachers in the course of their work where the girl is under 18 at identification or disclosure. A concern that a child may be at risk, or a suspicion without the defined evidence, still requires appropriate safeguarding action but is not automatically a report under that specific duty. Mandatory reporting guidance ↗.
Consent does not make a prohibited virginity test or hymenoplasty lawful. The Health and Care Act 2022 created offences across the UK for carrying out, offering or assisting these procedures. The appearance of a hymen cannot establish sexual history, and medically indicated treatment for a different purpose must be distinguished from the prohibited procedure. UK government guidance ↗.
“Dishonour Abuse” is Freedom’s preferred term. Other organisations and the Crime and Policing Act 2026 use the statutory term “honour-based abuse”. The 2026 Act includes provisions for a definition and guidance to public authorities, but sections 143 and 144 were still marked prospective at this page’s review on 25 September 2026. They do not create one standalone offence covering every act of abuse. Police and prosecutors use the offences relevant to the conduct. 2026 Act, section 143 ↗ · Freedom’s terminology and safeguarding information.
Legal information reviewed 25 September 2026 against the linked primary legislation and official guidance. Legislative commencement and guidance may change. This is general information, not personal legal advice or a substitute for emergency safeguarding action.
Forced marriage offence · FMPOs · FGM Act 2003 · FGMPOs · FGM reporting duty · Crime and Policing Act 2026 · Virginity testing and hymenoplasty guidance
About Freedom
Freedom Charity was co-founded in 2009 by Aneeta Prem MBE and Lord Toby Harris. Its work brings together safeguarding, education, public awareness, professional training, books, technology, campaigning and policy engagement around forced marriage, female genital mutilation and related forms of abuse.
Freedom does not replace the police, social care, the NHS, courts, the Forced Marriage Unit or legal advice. Its role is to help people recognise risk, understand the issues, find safer routes to help and strengthen prevention.
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