Topic: Forced marriage

During 2006-7, 5% of women resident in refuge accommodation were fleeing forced marriage - 870 women annually (*Residents Questionnaire, Annual Survey 2007).

A forced marriage is a marriage conducted without valid consent of one or both parties, and some form of duress is involved. This could be emotional pressure – for example, parents may insist that rejection of this marriage partner would bring shame to the family; or arrangements for marriage might be made (perhaps abroad) without intended bride being told the purpose of the trip. 

The majority of victims of forced marriage are female, and forced marriage is a form of domestic violence and violence against women.

There is a difference  between forced marriage and the tradition of arranged marriages.  In arranged marriages the families of both spouses take a leading role in arranging the marriage but the individuals concerned are given a free choice whether or not to accept the arrangement. 

The Forced Marriage Unit received 5,000 enquiries and handled approximately 400 cases in 2007, 167 of which involved repatriation to the UK. (From answer to Parliamentary question, Vernon Coaker MP, 30/1/08)

Should forced marriage become a criminal offence? On several occasions, it has been proposed that legislation be introduced making forced marriage a specific offence under criminal law.  However, Women's Aid, together with the majority of organisations working in this sector, do not believe this would be helpful, and it could add to the barriers preventing disclosure.

* Staistics from Annual Survey 2007 which gives the 5% figure (from Residents part of that survey)  - covers the year 2006-7. Total figure is 5% (proportion of women on one day) of the total numbers resident throught the year.