Forced marriage

Forced marriage is not the same as an arranged marriage.

A forced marriage is where one or both people do not or cannot consent to the marriage.

Abuse and pressure put on people to marry against their will can be physical, emotional, psychological and financial abuse.

The UK’s Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) have outlined the following reasons why people fore others into marriage:

To control unwanted behaviour and sexuality, and prevent ‘unsuitable’ relationships, i.e. with people outside their ethnic, cultural, caste or religious group
To protect perceived cultural or religious ideals
Family ‘honour’ or long-standing family commitments
Peer group or family pressure
To ensure land, property and wealth remain in the family
To strengthen family links
To assist claims for residence and citizenship
To provide a carer for a disabled family member / reduce the ‘stigma’ of disability

Forced marriage is illegal in England and Wales.

This includes:

Taking someone overseas to force them to marry (whether or not the forced marriage takes place)
Marrying someone who lacks the mental capacity to consent to the marriage (whether they’re pressured to or not)