Return to: Home
Reported cases of forced marriage rise to 8,000
Published 02 July 2009
New guidance issued to schools and health workers after study suggests cases are rising
The government is preparing to take new measures to prevent forced marriages after a study suggested that nearly 8,000 cases were reported in England last year.
The study published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families suggested that the majority of victims were from Pakistan or Bangladesh.
Forced marriages are aimed at preventing girls from marrying boys from other religions or cultures, or enabling others to move to Britain.
The report warned that many cases were not identified because they took place outside of school or because women feared reprisals from relatives.
The Foreign Office today issued new guidance to schools on preventing forced marriages after it dealt with 420 cases last year.
Chris Bryant, the Foreign Office minister, said: “Nobody should be forced into marriage against their will or without their free and open consent. It is depressing that this practice does still continue, for whatever reason, and as a Government we are determined to do everything we can to put a stop to it and to protect the vulnerable. There is no culture in which this is acceptable in a modern world.”
Post this article to
Post your comment
Please note: you will need to login or register before you can comment on the website
