Young People - Forced Marriage

Definitions:

Consent = giving permission to do something or for something to happen

Marriage = two people promising to share their lives together

A Love Marriage = a person chooses their partner based on who they find attractive

Arranged Marriage = A family takes a lead in deciding who their child marries. The child gives their full consent

Forced Marriage = the family decide who their child marries. The child does not fully consent. They may have been physically or emotionally forced into saying yes

Young People from Nottingham created a music track to promote what people do deserve from a relationship.

Women and girls aged 13-30 years are most at risk from being forced into a marriage but 15% of victims are male

Forced Marriage:

A forced marriage is never okay
In the UK forced marriages are considered to be a crime, even if the person is taken abroad for the marriage to take place.
The Forced Marriage Act 2007 is a legal document issued by a judge that aims to stop a marriage from taking place without both peoples consent. For more information about this Act click here
Forced marriage can have a devastating impact on young people. For example it can make a person feel trapped, depressed, stressed, anxious or even suicidal

Everyone has a right to decide who they marry. Click here to read about human rights.

Here is a short animation about forced marriage:

Help and Support

People may feel they are unable to get out of a forced marriage because they don't want to bring shame on the family, or be made to leave the family or community, or because they are scared.
Support services can help people who have been in or are in a forced marriage:

Forced Marriage Unit: Monday - Friday 9-5pm (+44) (0) 20 7008 0151

Global response centre: out of hours (+44) (0) 20 7008 1500

Email: fmu@fco.gov.uk

The Karma Nivarna website supports people who have or are experiencing a forced marriage and honour based violence click here to go to the site