As it stands, the minimum age to enter into a marriage in England and Wales is sixteen years old with the consent of a parent or guardian. Campaigners are now calling for a change to this law, with UNICEF stating that marriage before the age of 18 is a fundamental violation of human rights. MPs are currently discussing …
“I will not be a victim for my parents’ honour and reputation. I will not live in shame. I am now free.” The right to choose who you marry, when you marry and if you marry is a fundamental human right which needs to be safeguarded under all circumstances. Forcing someone to marry is illegal in …
‘Muslim model, 24, is found hanged after fearing she was going to be forced into arranged marriage by her parents’ ‘The Hasidic woman … [who] killed herself suffered years of depression following her forced marriage to a first cousin’ These are just a few of the headlines from the media last month. The message is …
A number of grassroots organisations campaigning to eliminate violence against women and girls such as JAN Trust voiced concerns at the Government’s approach to criminalise forced marriages. JAN Trust is at the forefront of raising awareness and undertaking advocacy work to end the practice of forced marriage; they work with victims and are the only …
They might have a slight difference but essentially, aren’t they the same thing? The answer is a resounding “NO”. ‘Forced’ and ‘Arranged’ marriages are two entirely different practices and should be treated as such. The terms are often used interchangeably which results in confusion over the distinction between the two. It is important to clear …
