There is a clear distinction between a forced marriage and an arranged marriage. In arranged marriages, the families of both spouses take a leading role in arranging the marriage, but the choice of whether or not to accept the arrangement still remains with the prospective spouses. However, in forced marriage, one or both spouses do not consent to the marriage but are coerced into it. Duress can include physical, psychological, financial, sexual and emotional pressure. In the cases of some vulnerable adults who lack the capacity to consent, coercion is not required for a marriage to be forced.

The UK Government regards forced marriage as an abuse of human rights and a form of domestic abuse, and where it affects children and young people, child abuse. It is a criminal offence.
It can happen to both women and men, although many of the reported cases involve young women and girls aged between 16 and 25. There is no “typical” victim of forced marriage. Some may be over or under 18 years of age, some may have a disability, some may have young children and some may also be spouses from overseas.

If you or someone you know are in danger of being forced to marry, here are some useful contact details.  You can always contact someone at school to talk to. 

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7008 0151
Email: fmu@fco.gov.uk 
Email for outreach work: fmuoutreach@fco.gov.uk 
Facebook: Forced Marriage page 
Twitter: @FMUnit 
 
What is a forced marriage?