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27/10/2004
New proposals to tackle forced marriage unveiled
New laws and a specialist, cross-government taskforce to promote human rights and protect victims are being proposed to help prevent forced marriages, the Home Office and Foreign Office have announced today.
The minimum age for marriage entry clearance will be raised from 16 to 18 under the proposals and an additional forced marriage entry clearance post will be created in Islamabad to help reluctant spouses.
The package also includes a new joint Home Office-Foreign Office Forced Marriage Unit and a consultation to be launched later this year on whether to create a specific criminal offence of forcing someone into marriage.
Home Secretary David Blunkett said: "Forced marriage is simply an abuse of human rights. It is a form of domestic violence that dehumanises people by denying them their right to choose how to live their lives. Valuing individual citizens, their dignity and the contribution they have to make to society in their own right is a central part of our drive for strong, active communities. The appalling practice of forced marriage represents the opposite extreme and that is why government is taking tough action to eradicate it."
The Community Liaison Unit has over the last four years dealt with almost 1,000 cases of forced marriage and has rescued and repatriated around 200 young people from overseas.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said: "In difficult and stressful conditions our consular staff have removed victims from situations of extreme emotional and physical trauma. They have rescued victims who have been held captive, raped or forced into an abortion.
"However, more can certainly be done and we hope these new measures will drive forward increasingly effective co-operation between all those groups who are determined to tackle the abuse, both in the UK and overseas."
(gmcg/mb)
The minimum age for marriage entry clearance will be raised from 16 to 18 under the proposals and an additional forced marriage entry clearance post will be created in Islamabad to help reluctant spouses.
The package also includes a new joint Home Office-Foreign Office Forced Marriage Unit and a consultation to be launched later this year on whether to create a specific criminal offence of forcing someone into marriage.
Home Secretary David Blunkett said: "Forced marriage is simply an abuse of human rights. It is a form of domestic violence that dehumanises people by denying them their right to choose how to live their lives. Valuing individual citizens, their dignity and the contribution they have to make to society in their own right is a central part of our drive for strong, active communities. The appalling practice of forced marriage represents the opposite extreme and that is why government is taking tough action to eradicate it."
The Community Liaison Unit has over the last four years dealt with almost 1,000 cases of forced marriage and has rescued and repatriated around 200 young people from overseas.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said: "In difficult and stressful conditions our consular staff have removed victims from situations of extreme emotional and physical trauma. They have rescued victims who have been held captive, raped or forced into an abortion.
"However, more can certainly be done and we hope these new measures will drive forward increasingly effective co-operation between all those groups who are determined to tackle the abuse, both in the UK and overseas."
(gmcg/mb)
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15 December 2008
Bangladesh Court Orders Parents To Release Daughter
An NHS doctor who was allegedly held captive by her family in Bangladesh is due to arrive home in the UK later. The parents of Dr Humayra Abedin, a 33-year-old trainee GP, were ordered to give her back her passport, after intervention by the courts and the British Foreign Office.
Bangladesh Court Orders Parents To Release Daughter
An NHS doctor who was allegedly held captive by her family in Bangladesh is due to arrive home in the UK later. The parents of Dr Humayra Abedin, a 33-year-old trainee GP, were ordered to give her back her passport, after intervention by the courts and the British Foreign Office.
25 November 2008
New Laws To Protect Victims Of Forced Marriages Introduced
New laws that would protect victims of forced marriage and prevent others from the same fate, have been brought into statute today. The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 will enable courts to prevent forced marriages and order those responsible for forcing another into marriage to change their behaviour or face jail.
New Laws To Protect Victims Of Forced Marriages Introduced
New laws that would protect victims of forced marriage and prevent others from the same fate, have been brought into statute today. The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 will enable courts to prevent forced marriages and order those responsible for forcing another into marriage to change their behaviour or face jail.
16 June 2014
Forced Marriage Becomes Criminal Offence
Forcing someone to marry against their will is now a criminal offence. New legislation introduced today by the government is designed to help people in England and Wales. It also applies to UK nationals overseas who are at risk of becoming the victim of a forced marriage.
Forced Marriage Becomes Criminal Offence
Forcing someone to marry against their will is now a criminal offence. New legislation introduced today by the government is designed to help people in England and Wales. It also applies to UK nationals overseas who are at risk of becoming the victim of a forced marriage.
30 March 2012
Consultation Finds Girl Of Five Forced Into Marriage
As a consultation looking into criminalising forced marriage in England, Wales and Northern Ireland reaches its end figures have shown a 5-year-old may be the UK’s youngest victim. The child is one of 400 in the last year to receive assistance from the government's Forced Marriage Unit.
Consultation Finds Girl Of Five Forced Into Marriage
As a consultation looking into criminalising forced marriage in England, Wales and Northern Ireland reaches its end figures have shown a 5-year-old may be the UK’s youngest victim. The child is one of 400 in the last year to receive assistance from the government's Forced Marriage Unit.
26 January 2005
Educational guidelines on forced marriage launched
A new set of educational guidelines will be issued for teachers to enable them to help pupils they suspect of being forced into marriage.
Educational guidelines on forced marriage launched
A new set of educational guidelines will be issued for teachers to enable them to help pupils they suspect of being forced into marriage.
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