Introduction
As seen in the definition below, a forced marriage happens when someone (male or female) is faced with physical or emotional pressure to marry. The force may include threats of/actual physical or sexual violence, financial abuse (e.g., the taking away of someone’s wages) and/or the individual being made to feel they are bringing ‘shame’ on the family by refusing to marry.
Forced marriage is illegal in the UK. It is a form of domestic abuse and a serious abuse of human rights. Many forced marriage victims are children who are still at school.
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Definition of forced marriage
A forced marriage is where one or both people do not or cannot consent to the marriage and pressure or abuse is used to force them into the marriage. It is also when anything is done to make someone marry before they turn 18, even if there is no pressure or abuse.
The criminal offence of forced marriage includes taking someone overseas to force them to marry (whether or not the marriage takes place) or marrying someone who lacks the mental capacity to consent to the marriage (whether or not they are pressurised).
Forcing someone to marry can result in a 7-year prison sentence. The legal age to marry in England and Wales is 18. It is a crime to do anything that would mean that a child is married before their 18th birthday, even if there is no violence, threats or other forms of coercion involved. As with all laws relating to forced marriage, this applies to non-binding, unofficial ‘marriages’ as well as legal marriages.
No major faith in the UK advocates forced marriage. Freely given consent is a pre-requisite of Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Islamic and Sikh marriages.
Prevalence
Statistics from the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) show that, in 2023, 25% of their supported cases involved victims under 17 years old. They also reveal the six most prevalent countries for forced marriage (i.e., the country where the spouse lives or where the marriage has or is due to take place) were:
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Afghanistan
- India
- Somalia
- Republic of Türkiye/Turkey
The majority (85%) of victims were in the UK when the case was referred to the FMU— an increase from 78% in 2022.
However, forced marriage is a largely hidden crime, so statistics may not reflect the full scale of the abuse.
Additional vulnerabilities
Forced marriage can be hard to identify as families may not talk about their plans. Both girls and boys can be victims, however, some groups are more vulnerable, and these include children and young people:
- with learning difficulties;
- who feel pressured to observe the traditions of a community;
- are pressured to keep family values and honour;
- identifying as LGBTQ+.
Many victims are still in school or college.
Spot the signs
The risks are present throughout the year, however, there is a substantial increase in children being taken abroad to be married during the summer holidays. Therefore, absences from school, requests for extended leave, and children/young people talking about long trips abroad to their family’s country of origin or talking about the upcoming holidays with fear can all be potential indicators of forced marriage taking place.
Other potential indicators include:
- changes in behaviour;
- deterioration in mental health;
- deterioration in behaviour and/or attainment (and unexpected poor exam results);
- running away from home.
What to do
If you are worried about a child or young person you must report it (initially to your designated safeguarding lead). You or the designated lead can get advice from the Forced Marriage Unit (fmu@fcdo.gov.uk / +44 (0) 20 7008 0151).
If necessary, they can obtain a Forced Marriage Protection Order to protect the young person and prevent them from leaving the UK. In certain circumstances, the government can also extract UK nationals from other countries if they have been taken there to be forced to marry.
Ensure children/young people know the risks – talk about forced marriage at an age-appropriate level from the later years of primary school in the same way we do about consent, harm and other issues.
Check children and young people have safe relationships – in their families, with their peers and with your staff. Create an environment where it’s okay to talk even about the most difficult things.
Know the signs and know what to do – use the checklists above, your safeguarding procedures and be confident in raising FGM as a possibility.
Take action — and keep taking action until children and young people are safe.
Resources
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Forced marriage – government website
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The right to choose: government guidance on forced marriage
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What is forced marriage?
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Forced marriage: a survivor’s handbook
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