Violence against women and girls

A forced marriage is where one or both people do not, or cannot, consent to marry. This includes where pressure or abuse is used to force them into the marriage. Pressure to marry can be physical, emotional, mental, and financial.  Forced marriage is also when anything is done to make someone marry before they turn 18. 

Forced marriage is not the same as arranged marriage. In an arranged marriage, the families of both spouses are involved in finding the partners and arranging the marriage. However, the spouses still have a choice about whether the marriage goes ahead. Forced marriage is not condoned by any of the major religions. 

Forced marriage is a form of domestic abuse. It is a form of exerting power and control over a person’s choices. There are strong links between forced marriage and so-called ‘honour-based’ violence. This is where a person who does not consent is seen to be dishonouring or shaming the family.

National Support Services

If you or someone you know is at risk of forced marriage you can contact the Forced Marriage Helpline on fmu@fco.gov.uk or 02070080151

The forced marriage helpline can help with safety planning, providing assistance when an unwanted spouse is due to move to the UK, and where possible, assistance in repatriation of victims held against their will overseas

• Karma Nirvana

  Advice, information, and support around honour-based abuse and forced marriage 

  Call 0800 5999 247 

If you are in immediate danger, call the police on 999

If you or someone you know is at risk of forced marriage, you can contact the Forced Marriage Helpline on fmu@fco.gov.uk or 02070080151

Local London support services

• Ashiana Network 

  Advice and support for South Asian, Turkish and Iranian victims and survivors of domestic abuse

  info@ashiana.org.uk or call 020 8539 0427

   

• Kiran Support Services 

  Advice and support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse from Asian backgrounds.

  Info@kiranss.org.uk or call 020 8558 1986

   

• IMECE 

  Advice and support for survivors of domestic abuse from Turkish, Kurdish and Turkish Cypriot backgrounds

  info@imece.org.uk or call 020 7354 1359

   

• Galop

  Advice and support for LGBT+ victims and survivors of domestic abuse 

  help@galop.org.uk or call 0800 999 5428

   

• Solace Women’s Aid 

  Domestic abuse advocacy service for victims and survivors of domestic abuse 

  walthamforestidsvaservice@solacewomensaid.org or call 07340 683382

   

• Stay Safe East 

  Advice and support for disabled survivors of domestic abuse

  enquiries@staysafe-east.org.uk or call 07865340122 

   

• Southall Black Sisters

  Advice and support for Black, African, or Caribbean Women, as well as victims and survivors of domestic abuse with no recourse to public funds

  info@southallblacksisters.co.uk 020 8571 0800 

Forced marriage is illegal in the UK. It is a form of domestic abuse and a serious abuse of human rights.

It is a criminal offence to force someone to marry. 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)
• breaching a forced marriage protection order is also a criminal offence

A Forced Marriage Protection Order (FMPO) is a civil law order that aims to protect people at risk of being forced into marriage, or people who are already in a forced marriage. They can place restrictions or requirements on individuals to prevent a forced marriage from happening. 

The court can make an order in an emergency so that protection is in place straightaway. Breaching an FMPO is a criminal offence and can result in a sentence of up to 5 years in prison. You can speak to Karma Nirvana (above) to learn more.