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BRITISH LEGISLATION BANNING forced marriage came into effect today, with those found guilty of the largely hidden practice facing up to seven years in prison.
The law applies not only within Britain but also makes it a criminal offence to force a British national into a marriage abroad, as many youngsters are flown out to weddings in their ancestral homelands, particularly in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
Nearly two-thirds of the cases dealt with by the government’s Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) relate to Britain’s South Asian communities.
Campaigners welcomed the new laws as a “huge step forward”, while the government hopes they will protect potential victims.
A practice wrecking the lives of unknown thousands of British-born youths, forced marriage has been increasingly exposed in the last decade.
“Forced marriage is a tragedy for each and every victim, and its very nature means that many cases go unreported,” said Home Secretary Theresa May.
“I am proud to say that the UK is already a world leader in the fight to stamp out this harmful practice with the government’s FMU working hard to tackle this terrible practice in the UK and overseas.
“Today’s criminalisation is a further move by this government to ensure victims are protected by the law and that they have the confidence, safety and the freedom to choose.”
Last year, the FMU dealt with some 1,300 cases — 18 percent of them men.
Forty percent of victims were aged 17 or under; three quarters were aged under 22.
Officials fear the number of victims coming forward is just the tip of the iceberg.
Meanwhile charities say few leaders with influence in their communities are prepared to take a stand, for fear of losing their support base.
The cases related to 74 different countries, although 43 percent were linked to Pakistan, 11 percent to India and 10 percent to Bangladesh.
Other countries with multiple cases included Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iran and Tunisia.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said children as young as 12 had contacted them about forced marriage, with the numbers calling up two-thirds in the last year.
The charity’s Ash Chand called the new law “a huge step forward which we hope will deter those plotting against their own children.
“Many young people who call our ChildLine service about this issue are frightened, concerned and feel control of their lives is being wrenched from them.”
- © AFP 2014.
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So the practice of arranged marriages continues… behind closed doors, unless some poor girl is strong enough to report her parents . Very sad ..
But now she can report them. That is why this law was brought in, to make sure that if it does happen, there is a law to help the victims of it.
Some of these girls are as young as 9 and some have been ‘married’ to 70 year old members of their own family. If the girls are ‘strong enough’ try to do anything about it the result is usually an ‘honour killing’ or an acid attack. Provided that the unfortunates have survived FGM.
The law will not be able to protect her from her family .
Did not the Prophet[p on Him] not marry a child of about 9?
No she was 7 but the marriage was consecrated when she was 9. Pbuh.
@mjhint – I think you meant consummated when she was 9. Just in case anyone is in any doubt over the ‘prophet’ and his actions concerning his child bride.
The subcontinent is culturally an extremely backward place. Gang rape, FGM and arranged (aka forced) marriages are commonplace.
The need for a force specifically to tackle this problem in the UK is what happens when a microcosm of that society is created within a modern Western nation.
This is why very gradual, controlled immigration is the only way forward, to avoid ghettoisation and the proliferation of subcultures.
Ireland should waste no time in following suit.
It’s a start but how do you ban something that’s ‘hidden’ & ‘cultural?’ Barbaric practice!
A great day for so many young girls throughout the world that have to endure archaic practices that serve no benefit. People who force their daughters into these sham marriages should be ashamed of themselves.
The law against arranged marriages is for the UK only .
This is definitely a move in the right direction by the British Government. The Irish Government and other Governments all over the world should pass similar legislation and make sure it is enforced.
You don’t seriously think that will stop the practice, FGM (female genital mutilation is against the law but it still goes on)
I have an interest in forced divorce. Let’s see if the Registrar General acts now.
I find interesting the image you have chosen be used in this article…
I was at a forced marriage last weekend. A girl who thought she should get married to the guy she’s doesn’t live cos she was ‘that’ age and daren’t be single. Forced marriages are sad.
have your say