UK Wedding News
17/06/2014
Forcing someone to marry against their will is now a criminal offence in the UK, it has been announced.
New legislation has been introduced by the Government which is designed to help people in England and Wales, as well as UK nationals overseas who are at risk of becoming a victim of forced marriage.
Forced marriage can often involve physical, psychological, emotional, financial and sexual abuse, including many being held unlawfully captive, assaulted and raped.
Last year, the UK Government's Forced Marriage Unit provided advice or support related to a possible forced marriage to more than 1,300 people. Under the new laws, the maximum penalty for the offence of forced marriage is seven years' imprisonment.
In addition to the above, the new legislation also makes forcing a UK national into marriage outside the UK an offence under domestic law for the first time. The offence would be triable in courts in England and Wales.
It is understood the new criminal offences will work alongside existing civil legislation (Forced Marriage Protection Orders – FMPOs), allowing victims to pursue a civil or criminal option.
FMPOs can already be made by a civil court against any individuals suspected of trying to force a victim into marriage, and those now found in breach of a FMPO is a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.
Commenting on the new legislation, Home Secretary Theresa May said: "Forced marriage is a tragedy for each and every victim, and its very nature means that many cases go unreported.
"I am proud to say that the UK is already a world-leader in the fight to stamp out this harmful practice with the government's Forced Marriage Unit working hard to tackle this terrible practice in the UK and overseas.
"Today's criminalisation is a further move by this government to ensure victims are protected by the law and that they have the confidence, safety and the freedom to choose."
Aneeta Prem, founder of Freedom charity, which educates young people about forced marriage, added: "I am delighted that the government has taken action to criminalise forced marriage. In the most tragic cases, people forced into marriage become domestic slaves by day and sexual slaves by night.
"Today's announcement sends out a powerful message that this indefensible abuse of human rights will be not be tolerated. Everyone should have the freedom to choose."
(JP/CD)
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Forced Marriage Now A Crime In The UK
Forcing someone to marry against their will is now a criminal offence in the UK, it has been announced.
New legislation has been introduced by the Government which is designed to help people in England and Wales, as well as UK nationals overseas who are at risk of becoming a victim of forced marriage.
Forced marriage can often involve physical, psychological, emotional, financial and sexual abuse, including many being held unlawfully captive, assaulted and raped.
Last year, the UK Government's Forced Marriage Unit provided advice or support related to a possible forced marriage to more than 1,300 people. Under the new laws, the maximum penalty for the offence of forced marriage is seven years' imprisonment.
In addition to the above, the new legislation also makes forcing a UK national into marriage outside the UK an offence under domestic law for the first time. The offence would be triable in courts in England and Wales.
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It is understood the new criminal offences will work alongside existing civil legislation (Forced Marriage Protection Orders – FMPOs), allowing victims to pursue a civil or criminal option.
FMPOs can already be made by a civil court against any individuals suspected of trying to force a victim into marriage, and those now found in breach of a FMPO is a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.
Commenting on the new legislation, Home Secretary Theresa May said: "Forced marriage is a tragedy for each and every victim, and its very nature means that many cases go unreported.
"I am proud to say that the UK is already a world-leader in the fight to stamp out this harmful practice with the government's Forced Marriage Unit working hard to tackle this terrible practice in the UK and overseas.
"Today's criminalisation is a further move by this government to ensure victims are protected by the law and that they have the confidence, safety and the freedom to choose."
Aneeta Prem, founder of Freedom charity, which educates young people about forced marriage, added: "I am delighted that the government has taken action to criminalise forced marriage. In the most tragic cases, people forced into marriage become domestic slaves by day and sexual slaves by night.
"Today's announcement sends out a powerful message that this indefensible abuse of human rights will be not be tolerated. Everyone should have the freedom to choose."
(JP/CD)
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