A marriage which takes place without the full and free consent of both parties. Force includes pressure by threats or other psychological or emotional pressure. It is different from arranged marriage where couples have fee will and choice to marry whom they wish and where families take the lead in organising and arranging the details of the marriage ceremony and celebrations.
The Forced Marriage Unit helps people who are being forced into a marriage wither in the UK or Abroad. Around 300 cases a year are reported to them. It is thought that there are many more people who are forced into a marriage that do not come to the attention of the unit. The Guardian recently reported a large number of girls who are missing from school with no explanation – this raises questions of how many of these girls have been forced into marriages and why the schools and police have not taken action to locate them.
The evidence from the Home Office states:
Parents often justify there actions by suggesting that by forcing the person to marry they are:
But, every major faith condemns forced marriages including Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh.
Often the marriage is forced due to significant pressure from extended family.
It is not an offence to force someone to marry.
But the following offences may be committed in doing so:
Someone who is being forced into marriage is often:
Advice from the Forced Marriage Unit is that you should never view it as a generational or culture clash that can be solved by mediation. This could be extremely dangerous to the victim.
The Act gives certain courts the power to make a Forced Marriage Protection Order.
This order can contain legally binding conditions and directions that change the behaviour of people who are trying to force someone into a marriage.
Emergency Orders can be obtained to put protection in place immediately.
The order can have a power of arrest attached where violence is threatened or used to enable to police to arrest a person who breaks the order.
Adults or Children can apply (children will need a legal representative or permission of the court).
The court may be able to offer:
