Domestic Abuse - Honour Based Violence
What is Honour Based Violence, Forced Marriage and
FGC?
A forced marriage is a marriage without the valid consent of
both parties, where pressure or abuse is involved.
All involved should feel they have a choice and voice. Marriage
must be entered into with the full and free consent of both
parties.
Forced Marriage
Forced marriage is a form of domestic abuse. Both women and men
can be forced to marry and can suffer from honour based violence.
It also cuts across many cultures and communities.
Pressure put on people to enter into marriage against their will
may include physical and emotional abuse. Those involved may be
made to feel that if they don't marry they will bring shame on
their family.
Arranged marriages are not the same as forced marriages.
Relatives of both parties have an important role in choosing the
marriage partner but the choice to marry or not is up to both
parties.
Female Gential Cutting (FGC)
Female genital cutting (FGC) is also known as female genital
mutilation (FGM), female circumcision, or female genital
mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), is any procedure involving the partial
or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury
to the female genital organs. This maybe for cultural,
religious or any other non therapeutic reason. The term FGC is
usually used to describe cultural or religious procedures on a girl
under the age of 16.
Consent of the parents is required because the girl is minor.The
procedure when carried out on an adult with consent is usually
described as clitoridectomy or may be part of labiaplasty or
vaginoplasty.
It doesn't apply to sex reassignment surgery or the genital
modification of intersexuals. FGC is mainly practiced in North East
Africa, some areas of East and South East Asia. FGC is
illegal in the UK
Forward- Forward was established in the UK in 1983 in response
to the emerging problems caused by FGC. Since then Forward has been
working to eliminate the practice and support those affected.
http://www.forwarduk.org.uk/about
The most important thing
you can do is tell someone you trust. Never be afraid to ask for
help, even if you have previously asked but at that time you didn't
feel it was the right time.
Support is available when you are ready
What to
do
If you or someone you know is being forced to marry you can
contact the Forced Marriage Unit ( FMU).
If you feel you maybe forced into marriage during a trip abroad
contact the Forced Marriage Unit before you go.
If a relative or friend has not returned home from a trip abroad
and you feel they maybe have been forced to marry again you can
contact the Forced Marriage Unit.
It maybe helpful to the FMU if you can give them details such as
where the person has gone, when they where due back and when you
last heard from them.
The FMU can provide confidential information and advice to those
involved. They work with agencies based in the UK and abroad to
prevent forced marriages taking place.
Support and advice to those already in forced marriages is
provided.
Anybody in the UK regardless of nationality will be offered
advice and support.
In an emergency call 999!
FMU contact
details
Tel 9am-5pm Monday-Friday 020 7008 0151
Tel Global Response Centre ( out of hours) 020 7008
1500
E-mail [email protected]
Website GOV.UK -Forced Marriage
Support available