Forced Marriage
Forced Marriage: Myths and stereotypes
What is Forced Marriage?
A forced marriage is when someone is forced, coerced or manipulated to marry someone else against their will. Forced marriage is an abuse of someone’s human rights, and falls within the definition of violence against women, although sometimes men are forced to marry also. One-third of the victims of forced marriage are under the age of 18, and 15% of the victims are men.
A forced marriage is not the same thing as an arranged marriage. In an arranged marriage the families of both spouses take a leading role in arranging the marriage, but the choice of whether or not to accept the arrangement remains with the people getting married. In forced marriage, one or both of the people do not consent, and there is some element of physical or emotional pressure. This is illegal – nobody should be pressured or forced to marry anyone that they don’t want to.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 16 (2) states that:
“Marriage should be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses."
Forced marriage occurs within many cultures, classes and aspects of society. A person at risk of a forced marriage may suffer a range of abuses including emotional and physical abuse, unlawful imprisonment, abduction, rape, forced pregnancy or enforced abortion.
Parents who force their children to marry often justify their behaviour as protecting their children, building stronger families and preserving cultural or religious traditions. They often do not see anything wrong in their actions. Forced marriage cannot be justified on religious grounds; every major faith condemns it and freely given consent is a prerequisite of Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh marriages.Often parents believe that they are upholding the cultural traditions of their home country, when in fact practices and values there have changed. Some parents come under significant pressure from their extended families to get their children married. In some instances, an agreement may have been made about marriage when a child is in their infancy. Sometimes a forced marriage is used to enable someone who lives outside of the country to come here to live.
None of these reasons are acceptable and are of course against the law. Please SAY NO TO THE FEAR of forced marriage by seeking help and support as soon as you can to ensure that this does not happen to you, or someone that you care about.
Forced Marriage: Myths and stereotypes
Only Asian women or Black women experience forced marriage
Women from many different countries and cultures experience forced marriage, not just those from Asia, or Black women.
Forced marriage is the same as an arranged marriage
Forced marriage is when someone is forced, coerced or manipulated to marry someone they don’t want to. They may do so because they are afraid of violence or because the fear harm may come to someone else. An arranged marriage is when both parties willing want to marry each other and give their informed consent.
Some religions preach forced marriage
No religion in the world endorses forced marriage. Forced marriage is a concept that has been created by individuals and communities. Forced marriage cannot be justified on religious grounds; every major faith condemns it and freely given consent is a prerequisite of Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh marriages.
Nobody can prevent a forced marriage
Forced marriages can be prevented, or over-turned after they have happened. However, the victim will need support to stop this from happening to them.
Risks
The first risk is that being pressured or coerced to marry can lead to serious injury, and sometimes death. Where someone refuses to marry, particularly a girl, then this can lead to her being seen as bringing shame and dishonour on her family and this can lead to honour crimes and honour killings.
Many girls underestimate the risks placed upon them by their families and truly believe that their families will listen to them, and will not force them to marry. Sometimes families will pretend to go along with her wishes and feelings and then will take action to force her to marry. This can include taking her abroad under the pretext that it’s a family holiday, or a wedding, or that someone is ill. The risk is that if she just disappears it can be very difficult to find her without any prior knowledge of where she has been taken, or any contact information. In some cases girls are taken abroad when they are too young to marry or even think about the fact that they may be forced to marry, they are then held captive and married when they are hold enough to do so.
When a girl is isolated from knowledge about forced marriage this can mean that she does not recognise the signs that a forced marriage is being planned by her family, and will mean that she may not realise that she needs to seek support.
Once a girl has been forced to marry she is then at risk of rape and sexual assault, enforced and continual pregnancy, and violence and abuse from both her husband, his family and her own family.
Impact of forced marriage
Being under threat of forced marriage, or forced to marry can affect a victim’s whole life. They will be isolated from support networks, their physical and mental health will suffer, their liberty may be completely removed, they may experience extreme levels of violence and abuse, including sexual violence, and may be taken abroad against their will.
Seeking help and keeping safe
The most important thing that you can do if you feel that you or someone else is going to be forced to marry is to seek help by telling someone who can be trusted. The police, social services, advocates, teachers etc should all be able to help you to access support to try and stop this from happening to you. Making sure that you’re safe is a top priority. Taking action to prevent a forced marriage or leave a forced marriage means you will have to think about your personal safety and the risks you may face.
Your family may try to look for you and may use other relatives or your friends to try and find you. You should only tell people you totally trust about your plans.
If you think your family will tell the police that you are missing, you should contact the police yourself. They can then tell your family that you are alive and well, but they won’t tell them where you are. It may be necessary to change your name or assuming a new identity and you can change your name legally using the Deed Poll service. You don’t need a solicitor’s help, and the process can either be completed online or by post. There is a fee for changing your name by Deed Poll, and you might also have to pay for some replacement documents such as a new passport and driving licence. Getting a new national insurance number etc is more complicated and you will need the support and advice of the Forced Marriages unit or a specialist support service to do this.
Forced Marriages Unit
The Forced Marriage Unit is based in the Foreign and Commonwealth Unit and deals with anybody who is afraid that they are going be forced to marry, or have been forced to marry. They work with countries all around the world, including unexpected locations like Ireland and Norway, to help victims of forced marriage who have been taken out of the country. The unit will help anybody whether they are in the UK or abroad.
If you are a victim of forced marriage then the Forced Marriage Unit can also try and stop your spouse getting a visa to come to the UK to join you.
If you know of any case of forced marriage, or if you want confidential advice, contact FMU on 020-7008 0151 (9am-5pm) Emergency Duty Officer (out of office hours) (+44) (0)20 7008 1500 (or 0044 20 7008 0151 if you are overseas) .or email fmu@fco.gov.uk
If you are frightened that you may be taken out of the country and forced to marry then you should contact the Forced Marriages Unit as soon as possible. Call them on 020 7008 0151 before you go.
You should really think about whether you really want to go abroad at all, sometimes family may trick you into going by saying that you are going to a family event, or someone is sick or dying. Once you’re there you may:- be isolated
- face emotional pressure
- be watched all the time
- have no money
- not have your passport or ticket so that you can’t return home
- be a long way from a telephone
- be forced to marry
If you still decide to go you should tell the Forced Marriage Unit and also make sure you leave the following with a trusted friend:
- full address and telephone number of where you are going to stay abroad
- your passport details
- all your flight details (there and back)
Also try and find out where the nearest embassy is before you go and keep the telephone number at all times. This information is available at
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/fco-in-action/nationals/forced-marriage-unit/forced-marriage
For more information on how to deal with forced marriage then the Forced Marriages unit have developed a guide for people at risk.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/2855621/survivors-handbook
The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act
Under the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act, where a forced marriage has or is about to take place, courts will be able to make orders to protect the victim or the potential victim and help remove them from that situation.
Courts will be able to order people to hand over passports, reveal the whereabouts of a person thought to be at risk and stop someone from being taken abroad. Anyone failing to comply with an order could face jail. Under the legislation, a victim, friend or the police can apply to court for an order.
The courts are also able to attach powers of arrest to orders so that if someone breaches an order they can be arrested and brought back to the original court to consider the alleged breach of the order.
For advice on-line please go to:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/things-go-wrong/forced-marriage
Support services
You can contact Merseyside Police, Family Crimes Investigation Unit in Sefton In an emergency please call 999.
If you know of any case of forced marriage, or if you want confidential advice, contact Forced Marriage Unit on 020-7008 0151 (9am-5pm) Emergency Duty Officer (out of office hours) (+44) (0)20 7008 1500 (or 0044 20 7008 0151 if you are overseas) .or email fmu@fco.gov.uk
You can also speak to the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or local Domestic and Sexual Violence services in Sefton (see Directory of Services). There are also a range of other support services in other areas that you can contact.
Ashiana Project (London): 020 8539 0427
Ashiana (Sheffield): 0114 255 5740
Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation (IKWRO): 0207 490 0303 or 07862 733511
Hemat Gryffe Women's Aid (Glasgow): 0141 353 0859
Newham Asian Women's Project (London): 0208 472 0528
Roshni (Nottingham Asian Women's Aid): 0115 948 3450, 24 hour
Karma Nirvana Asian Men and Women's Project (Derby):01332 604098
also runs the Honour Network helpline: 0800 5999 247
Domestic Violence Helpline (Greater Manchester): 0161 636 7525
The Doli Project (Birmingham): 0845 658 1057
Southall Black Sisters (London) : 020 8571 9595
