The issue of forced marriages has been traditionally treated with hesitation by the government, for fear of offending cultural sensitivities.

But more information about the nature of forced marriages and a clearer understanding of cultural values has brought the subject under governmental scrutiny.

Forced marriages are not the same as arranged marriages.

An arranged marriage is performed with the full and free consent of both parties and is still the chosen practise for many people all over the world.

Forced marriages are a result of cultural factors, and no major religion in the world advocates forced marriages.

A forced marriage is a marriage conducted without the consent of one or both parties, where pressure is a factor.

In 1999, the government set up a working group to tackle the issue of forced marriages. An important distinction was made between forced and arranged marriages.

"The tradition of arranged marriage has operated successfully within many communities and many countries for a long time and remains the preferred choice of many young people.
(Working Group: Forced Marriages - 'A Choice by Right', June 2000)
Although it is not known exactly how many people each year are forced into marriages, the Government's Forced Marriage Unit sees at least 250 cases each year.

Demographics

Forced marriage affects men and women from all over the world, and across many cultural groups. The British Royal Family even has a history of it, as did many members of the British aristocracy in the past. It is important to understand that it is not limited to just a few cultural groups, although it does usually affect women who are of South Asian origin.

Most victims are young women between the ages of 14 - 25, but only those who are aged 16 and over get married in this country. Girls who are much younger are sometimes taken to other countries and made to marry whilst there.

Men are also affected, although information for this is even more limited than for women, due to underreporting. Men are not always subject to the same cultural expectations as women, so the number of forced marriage instances for men is much lower.

No one knows exactly how many victims are forced into marriage each year, as not every case is reported. Local women's groups and social service organisations can see up to 250 cases each every year.