What is Forced Marriage?
Forced marriage is just that. It’s when one, or both, people are married without their consent or against their will.
Not to be confused with arranged marriage, forced marriage is a serious abuse of human rights, and is illegal in the UK. This means it’s a ‘hidden crime’, so UK statistics don’t reflect the full scale of the abuse.
Forced marriages happen in many cultures and nationalities and includes taking someone overseas and forcing them to marry. It affects both young people and adults. Some are forced to marry a member of their extended family, a cousin for example.
It also happens when an individual can’t freely agree on their own behalf. For example, if they have certain learning disabilities or mental health conditions.
While it happens to boys, it disproportionately affects women and girls.
Typically, young girls experience huge pressure to conform to the wishes of their parents, family, and community.
Motives vary, but duress into matrimony are commonly linked to:
The family believing it’s important as part of cultural or traditional ideals.
Financial gain or to ensure wealth stays within the family.
Maintaining family ‘honour’ or reputation.
Honouring a long-standing family commitment.
Controlling unwanted behaviour and sexuality, particularly of women.
Preventing ‘unsuitable’ relationships.
Helping family claims for citizenship or residency.
Providing a carer for a disabled family member and reducing the stigma of disability.
There are many other motives why people are pressured to marry.
No reason is okay.
Coercion takes many forms. It often includes psychological pressure and emotional abuse with young women being told they’ll bring ‘shame’ on the family or be disowned if they don’t go ahead with the marriage.
Often extremely vulnerable, many women experience abduction, isolation, and outright physical violence and threats that put their life in danger.
Forced marriage is a place where love doesn’t exist. In fact, love is often viewed ‘as a sin,’ as reported in this news story. Women frequently suffer domestic abuse at the hands of their husband or in-laws and find leaving an unconsented union difficult, especially if they have children.
The affected young girls and women frequently leave mainstream education early and this severely limits their freedom to learn, grow, and thrive. This often leads to financial dependency, and serious mental and physical health implications including depression, eating disorders, and self-harm.
If you or anyone you know are at risk of being forced into a marriage, it’s important to seek help immediately.
The Forced Marriage Unit offers support to any individual within the UK regardless of nationality. They also provide support and advice to professionals.
0207 008 0151: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
0207 008 1500: Global Response Centre (out of hours)
Email: FMU@fco.gov.uk
Contact us and schedule a call to speak to someone who has real lived experience of forced marriage.
Universal Truth is committed to stamping out this exploitative practice.