25 Jan 2007

Liberty today welcomed a new Bill which will provide civil remedies for victims of forced marriage. Citing the physical and mental mistreatment, loss of liberty and other serious abuses that victims of forced marriage often face, the human rights group urged Peers to support the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill during its second reading in the House of Lords on 26th January.
 

Director of Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti said: 
  
“We must shatter the taboo surrounding forced marriage – it is domestic violence which runs roughshod over fundamental human rights.  
 
Lord Lester's ingenious Bill provides civil injunctions to protect victims. This is far more likely to tempt women to come forward than the prospect of reporting their family members as criminals."  
 
Legendary human rights campaigner Lord Lester drafted the Private Members Bill in partnership with the Southall Black Sisters and a team of leading family lawyers. These proposals are supported by leading human rights groups, women’s rights groups and minority ethnic organisations.  
 
Liberty stressed that Government funding for practical support and assistance for forced marriage victims would still be needed even with the successful passage of the bill.  
 
A forced marriage is one carried out under duress without valid consent by one or both parties and should not be confused with arranged marriage, in which families play a matchmaking role but both parties marry of their own free will. Government sources show that approximately 300 forced marriage cases are reported each year to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Forced Marriage Unit, but experts believe the true number is much higher. 
  
Contact: Jen Corlew on 0207 378 3656 or 0797 3 831 128  
 
Notes to Editors
 
1. For a copy of Liberty’s Briefing on the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill, please visit the link on the right.  
  
2. There is no law expressly prohibiting forced marriage in the UK. This bill fills a gap in existing law by providing civil remedies and protections for victims and potential victims. 
  
3. Liberty hopes that the Bill will present an unequivocal statement that forced marriage is a gross human rights violation, unacceptable in our society and under our law. Liberty rejects any suggestion that action should not be taken against forced marriage because this would have a disproportionate effect on certain communities within the UK. If practices which violate internationally recognised human rights standards are of a particularly high incidence within one racial or religious group that in no way excuses those violations or justifies inaction on the part of the state. 
  
4. In 2005, the FCO and Home Office consulted on proposals to create a criminal offence of forced marriage. Liberty shared the premise that something needed to be done but like many other organisations, feared that a new criminal offence would be unworkable, unnecessary and potentially counter-productive by deterring potential victims from coming forward to seek help. Ultimately, the Government concluded that it would not proceed with the creation of a new criminal offence.