Forced Marriage
Everyone has the right to choose who they marry and when they marry, or if they marry at all.
Forced marriage is when someone does not consent and faces pressure to marry. This pressure could be physical (for example threats, physical violence or sexual violence) or emotional and psychological pressure (for example if someone is made to feel like they are bringing shame on their family).
Men, women and children of all ages and backgrounds can be victims of forced marriage.
Forced marriage is a serious abuse of human rights and is illegal in the UK. This includes taking someone overseas to force them to marry (whether the forced marriage takes place or not) and marrying someone who lacks the mental capacity to consent to the marriage (whether they are pressured or not).
Find out more about forced marriage and what protection, advice and support is available.
There is a clear distinction between an arranged and forced marriage. An arranged marriage is entered freely by both parties, although their families take a leading role in the choice of the partner. It becomes a forced marriage when there is any form of duress.
Honour killings
Honour based abuse is a form of domestic abuse which is perpetrated in the name of so called ‘honour’. An honour killing is the murder of a person by members of their family or social group, carried out in the name of protecting cultural beliefs or honour with the purpose of controlling behaviour.
Those targeted are believed to have shamed their family or community or violated the principles of their religion. honour killings are often linked to reasons such as refusing to enter an arranged marriage, being in a relationship that is disapproved by their family, having sex outside of marriage, becoming the victim of rape, dressing in ways which are deemed inappropriate, engaging in homosexual relations or renouncing a faith.
Honour killings are especially targeted against women and homosexuals, and occur in various cultures worldwide, including in the UK.
Please also be aware that crimes of honour do not always include violence. Crimes committed in the name of honour might include:
- domestic abuse
- threats of violence
- sexual or psychological abuse
- forced marriage
- being held against your will or taken somewhere you don’t want to go
- assault
Useful resources and training
In addition to the resources available via our main domestic and sexual violence and abuse page, please refer to Safer Devon’s preventing exploitation toolkit and further information about interpersonal and gender-based violence and abuse.
You can also find out more about forced marriage and what protection, advice and support is available on the government website.
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