Forced marriages

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Forced marriage is when a marriage takes place without the proper consent of one or both parties or where the individual/s have been forced to give consent. Forced marriage is not the same as arranged marriage. In arranged marriages, family members take a leading role in choosing a marriage partner and in arranging the marriage but the choice whether to accept the arrangement or not remain with the individuals getting married.

Forced marriage is a form of domestic violence and child abuse.

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Are you at risk of forced marriage?

• Are you being pressured to get married but don’t want to?
• Is a close member of your family threatening to hurt you if you don’t accept an arranged marriage?
• Is anyone abusing you verbally or physically and pressuring you to get married?
• Have you already been forced into a marriage?
• Are you being forced to live with a marriage partner you did not choose and you do not want to be with?
• Are you being prevented from going out at all?
• Are you being prevented from going to school or college or from having a job?
• Are you feeling depressed, isolated, guilty and ashamed?
• Do you feel like wanting to hurt yourself, have difficulty eating and sleeping, not looking after yourself, using drugs or alcohol to help you cope?

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What can you do?

Remember:

• You have the right to refuse and not accept a marriage.
• You are entitled to seek help and have the right to legal protection against abuse and being forced into a marriage.
• If you are already married you have the right to legally separate or annul a forced marriage – currently a petition must be made to the court of law in UK within 3 years of the marriage.
• Whatever your situation is, you can talk to someone in confidence about your feelings and find out more about your rights and options before making any decisions.

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What support can you get?

• If your decision is to leave home you can access help to find alternative accommodation and be offered practical support.
• Help and advice is available if you are about to be taken abroad for the purpose of a forced marriage.
• If a person has been taken abroad for the purpose of a forced marriage, help is available to protect her/him against further abuse and to get back to UK.

There are many agencies who can help you to deal with what is happening to you. View support organisations [link to contacts & support organisations] for further advice.

Who can help?

• In an emergency always call 999
• NSPCC 24 hour Child Protection Helpline 0808 800 5000 (freephone)
• LBTH Domestic Violence Team 0800 279 5434 (freephone)
• NSPCC, The Level, Street Matters & Bfree 020 77791 9600
• Tower Hamlets Asian Women’s Aid (accommodation) 020 7517 1420
• Ashiana Network (accommodation) 020 8539 0427
• Tower Hamlets Police Community Safety Service (CSU) 020 7275 4757
• Newham Asian Women’s Project 020 8472 0528
• Forced Marriage Unit 020 7008 0151
• Karma Nirvana (honour network helpline) – 0800 5 999 247

Find more contacts & support organisations.

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