WIREDGOV

Supporting victims of forced marriage

HOME OFFICE News Release (078/2007) issued by The Government News Network on 8 May 2007

Survivors of forced marriage are being offered help to start a new life with the launch of a new support network and handbook.

The Government's forced marriage unit deals with around 5,000 inquiries and helps rescue up to 300 women, children and men who are trapped in abusive, forced marriages every year.

Today, the Government is launching a new handbook for survivors which offers practical help and information to help survivors take control of their lives. A survivors' network is also being launched in partnership with Karma Nirvana, a forced marriage NGO, which will provide long term emotional support.

Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland said:

"Forced marriage is terrible for those women, children and men who find themselves in an often violent and abusive situation against their will.

"It's something that should not be happening in the modern world - it's not a respected cultural or religious tradition. Neither does it have anything to do with honour - there can be no honour in a marriage based on force and hostility.

"The Government is determined to help the victims of forced marriage and the handbook and network announced today are important steps in making sure survivors get the help they need and deserve to lead a new life."

Foreign Office Minister Lord Triesman said:

"Today we are launching our two-year strategy to combat forced marriage. We have developed this strategy to ensure that we continue to raise awareness of the issue, and to highlight the help that is available.

"The strategy will help us strengthen the partnership we have with those organisations who are involved in helping the victims of forced marriage." Department for Constitutional Affairs Minister Cathy Ashton said: "Forced marriage cannot be tolerated and the UK Government is committed to developing a range of measures to prevent it. As part of this commitment I am looking forward to providing support for Lord Lester's amended Forced Marriage Bill on Thursday. Along with the handbook and network launched today the Bill would provide a strong set of additional tools for those trying to prevent forced marriages and protect victims of them."

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The Survivors' Network has been developed in partnership with Karma Nirvana which has received £30,000 of funding from the Forced Marriage Unit.

2. The Forced Marriage Unit receives around 5,000 calls for general advice a year. Around 300 of these calls become cases, many leading to rescues and repatriations. Fifteen per cent of cases involve men and 30 per cent of cases involve minors.

3. The Forced Marriages Bill was drafted as a private members Bill introduced to Parliament by Lord Lester. The Bill will enable the courts to order a range of measures to prevent or pre-empt forced marriages from occurring. On 19 April 2007 the Government laid amendments to the Bill and announced it would be providing its support to it. Grand Committee stage of the Bill is scheduled for Thursday 10 May.