We campaign to prevent forced marriage and to protect those at risk. We believe that all people have the right to decide whether they want to get married and to choose their own marriage partner. This right is recognised by international law and in all religions.
Forced marriage is a major problem in the UK and last year the government’s Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) dealt with 1700 cases. Under the Forced Marriage Act (2008) it is possible to get a court order protecting a person from forced marriage and where British citizens who have been taken abroad for the purposes of forced marriage, the Forced Marriage Unit and the local embassy will work together to help them. However at present forced marriage is not a crime under UK law, and IKWRO believes it should be. If the government took a tougher stance on this issue, this would send a much stronger message to perpetrators that forced marriage will not be tolerated, and would give victims a much clearer sense that what is happening to them is wrong. IKWRO supports David Cameron’s recent proposals to criminalise forced marriage and will continue to campaign on this.
In the meantime it’s important that teachers and other professionals who come into contact with young people at risk of forced marriage know how to help them. The Forced Marriage Unit has introduced guidelines for public bodies, and through our training and our campaigns IKWRO is working to build awareness too.
Read more about criminalisation of forced marriage.
