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26/01/2005
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.
The guidelines, which are being launched by the Department of Education and Skills, will aim to raise awareness of the problem of forced marriage with local education authorities, schools and Further Education colleges. Similar guidelines have already been published for Social Services and the police.
The announcement of the new guidelines coincides with the launch of the joint Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Home Office. The FMU will be the government's central point for forced marriage casework, policy and projects and will provide information and assistance. Formerly known as the Community Liaison Unit, it dealt with between 250- 300 cases of forced marriage and helped to repatriate between 50 – 75 people each year. Most of the cases (around 85%) involved female victims, while 15% involved males.
Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, said that forced marriage represented "a disregard for individual citizens, their dignity and the contribution they have made to society". He said: "The new joint Home Office and Foreign Office Forced Marriage Unit is a further step in improving the assistance we can offer to those confronted by this abuse. In particular it is intended to be a clearly identifiable and well-known 'one-stop shop', providing information and assistance both to potential victims and to concerned professionals."
Mr Clarke also said that the government had received support from both secular and faith leaders from affected communities.
Baroness Symons, FCO Minister for Consular Affairs, said that the FMU was "another step closer" to helping protect young people from forced marriages. She said: "In the last four years we have dealt with more than 1,000 cases and helped repatriate around 200 young people to the UK. Now, by tackling this abuse at home, as well as abroad, we can try and prevent forced marriages."
(KmcA)
The guidelines, which are being launched by the Department of Education and Skills, will aim to raise awareness of the problem of forced marriage with local education authorities, schools and Further Education colleges. Similar guidelines have already been published for Social Services and the police.
The announcement of the new guidelines coincides with the launch of the joint Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Home Office. The FMU will be the government's central point for forced marriage casework, policy and projects and will provide information and assistance. Formerly known as the Community Liaison Unit, it dealt with between 250- 300 cases of forced marriage and helped to repatriate between 50 – 75 people each year. Most of the cases (around 85%) involved female victims, while 15% involved males.
Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, said that forced marriage represented "a disregard for individual citizens, their dignity and the contribution they have made to society". He said: "The new joint Home Office and Foreign Office Forced Marriage Unit is a further step in improving the assistance we can offer to those confronted by this abuse. In particular it is intended to be a clearly identifiable and well-known 'one-stop shop', providing information and assistance both to potential victims and to concerned professionals."
Mr Clarke also said that the government had received support from both secular and faith leaders from affected communities.
Baroness Symons, FCO Minister for Consular Affairs, said that the FMU was "another step closer" to helping protect young people from forced marriages. She said: "In the last four years we have dealt with more than 1,000 cases and helped repatriate around 200 young people to the UK. Now, by tackling this abuse at home, as well as abroad, we can try and prevent forced marriages."
(KmcA)
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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.
27 October 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.
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.
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.
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.
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