Forced Marriage

A forced marriage is where one or both people do not (or in cases of people with learning disabilities, cannot) consent to the marriage and pressure or abuse is used.

It is an appalling and indefensible practice and is recognised in the UK as a form of violence against women and men, domestic/child abuse and a serious abuse of human rights.
The pressure put on people to marry against their will can be physical (including threats, actual physical violence and sexual violence) or emotional and psychological (for example, when someone is made to feel like they’re bringing shame on their family). Financial abuse (taking your wages or not giving you any money) can also be a factor.

You can see the latest Forced Marriage Unit statistics HERE

FORCED MARRIAGE VS ARRANGED MARRIAGE

Freedom believes we all should be entitled to choose who we wish to marry. This is a basic human right and, in the UK, appropriate measures are in place to ensure the safety and protection of its most vulnerable citizens.

Freedom celebrates the UK’s cultural diversity and all the traditions that these bring but it makes a clear distinction between an arranged marriage and a forced marriage.

An arranged marriage is one which has been intermediated by a third party but crucially both individuals have a choice. If at first the match doesn’t succeed, it is up to the arranger to find other potentially suitable matches. In time a match will be found and both individuals and their families can be confident that, by having a free choice, the couple will have every chance to be happy together.

Freedom charity were instrumental in making forced marriage a crime covered by the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Forcing someone to marry can result in a sentence of up to seven years in prison.

Visit the government’s Forced Marriage page here where you can also download a Forced Marriage Protection Order HERE

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 rescued Zara who would have been subjected to daily rape and abuse.

Understanding and Preventing Forced Marriages in the UK

Understanding and Preventing Forced Marriages in the UK Forced marriages are a serious human rights violation and they can cause immense harm to the individuals involved. The UK government recognizes this issue and has taken steps to prevent and tackle it. In this article, we will take a comprehensive look at forced marriages and the steps that can be taken to prevent them. What is a Forced Marriage? A forced marriage is a marriage in which one or both of the individuals are married against their will. This can involve physical, psychological, or emotional pressure, as well as physical violence or threats of violence. Forced marriages are not just a problem in developing countries, they also occur in the UK. The Consequences of Forced Marriages Forced marriages can have severe and long-lasting consequences for the individuals involved. This can include physical, psychological, and emotional harm, as well as social isolation and loss of freedom. Forced marriage victims are often subjected to domestic abuse, sexual violence, and other forms of exploitation. The Freedom Charity and the UK Government's Response to Forced Marriages The UK government has taken a strong stance against forced marriages and has introduced several measures to prevent and tackle this issue. These include criminalizing forced marriage, offering support to victims, and raising awareness of the issue. The government has also established the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) to provide support and advice to victims and those at risk. How to Prevent Forced Marriages Preventing forced marriages is a collective effort that involves various stakeholders, including individuals, communities, and organizations. The following are some of the steps that can be taken to prevent forced marriages: Raising Awareness: Raising awareness of the issue is the first step in preventing forced marriages. This can be done through public campaigns, community outreach programs, and educational initiatives. Providing Support: Providing support to individuals at risk of forced marriage is critical. This can include legal advice, counseling, and safe accommodation. Criminalizing Forced Marriage: Criminalizing forced marriage sends a clear message that this practice is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The UK government has already taken this step, but more needs to be done to ensure that victims have access to the support they need. Working with Communities: Working with communities to address the issue is crucial. This can involve community leaders, religious leaders, and other key stakeholders. International Cooperation: Forced marriages often cross international borders, and international cooperation is essential to tackle this issue. The UK government works closely with other countries to prevent and tackle forced marriages. Conclusion Forced marriages are a serious human rights violation that can cause immense harm to the individuals involved. The UK government has taken steps to prevent and tackle this issue, but more needs to be done. By raising awareness, providing support, criminalizing forced marriage, working with communities, and cooperating internationally, we can help prevent forced marriages and protect the individuals at risk.

POSSIBLE WARNING SIGNS OF FORCED MARRIAGE

No two cases of Forced Marriage are the same and you will know your friends better than anyone else. There are signs that may suggest that your friend is in trouble and threatened with a Forced Marriage.
Key signs to look out for. Does your friend:

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 or not update social media from social media.

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PRACTICAL WAYS TO HELP A FRIEND

If you are worried about a friend who is exhibiting any of the above signs and fear that they may be forced into a marriage, tell your teacher or school mentor. You can say that you wish to remain anonymous. Tell your teacher that there are specialist police officers who can help and there is a Forced Marriage Unit at the Foreign Office.

Many Forced Marriages take place in the school/college holidays. It is often very difficult for a young person to take steps to avoid going on holiday even though they are afraid that something will happen. This may be because they do not feel strong enough to take steps to protect themselves or they do not want to believe their family could do such a thing.

If a friend tells you that they think they may be forced into a marriage when they go abroad on holiday, make sure they take these vital steps which could make all the difference:

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 on a date by which if they are not back, you have permission to tell a teacher or somebody else in authority about your concerns.

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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