Forced Marriage

What is Forced Marriage?

You have the right to choose who you marry, when you marry, or if you marry at all.

Forced marriage is when you face physical pressure to marry, such as threats, physical violence or sexual violence, or emotional and psychological pressure, such as being made to feel like you’re bringing shame on your family.

Is Forced Marriage Legal?

Forced marriage is illegal in England and Wales. This includes:

  • taking someone overseas to force them to marry (whether or not the forced marriage takes place)
  • marrying someone who lacks the mental capacity to consent to the marriage (whether they’re pressured to or not)

Forcing someone to marry can result in a sentence of up to 7 years in prison.

What to do if you think you are at risk of forced marriage

If someone is trying to force you into a marriage you don’t want, you have the right to say no – and the law can protect you. You can:

  • Call the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub on 01709 336080
  • Contact the Forced Marriage Unit if you think you’re about to be taken abroad to get married against your will
  • If you have been taken abroad to get married against your will, contact the nearest British Embassy

Find your nearest British Embassy

You can ask the court for a forced marriage protection order. A Forced Marriage Protection Order (FMPO) is a legal order made by a court to help keep you safe. Every order is different and is designed to protect you and your situation.

The court might order someone to:

  • Hand over your passport
  • Tell the court where you are
  • Stop contacting or threatening you

If you're in danger, the court can make an order straight away to protect you.

If someone disobeys a Forced Marriage Protection Order, they could go to prison for up to 5 years.

Who are the Forced Marriage Unit and where can I contact them?

The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) is a joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Home Office unit was which set up to lead on the Government’s forced marriage policy, outreach and casework. It operates both inside the UK, where support is provided to any individual, and overseas, where consular assistance is provided to British nationals, including dual nationals. The Forced Marriage Unit is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm. Contact details are below:

The FMU operates a public helpline to provide advice and support to victims of forced marriage as well as to professionals dealing with cases. The assistance provided ranges from simple safety advice, through to aiding a victim to prevent their unwanted spouse moving to the UK, and, in extreme circumstances, to rescues of victims held against their will overseas.

What you can do if someone you know is at risk of forced Marriage

You can call the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub on 01709 336080

Contact the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) if you know someone who’s been taken abroad to be forced into marriage.

Give as many details as you can, for example:

  • where the person has gone
  • when they were due back
  • when you last heard from them

The FMU will contact the relevant embassy.

If they are a British national, the embassy will try to contact the person and help them get back to the UK if that’s what they want.

I have been a victim of forced marriage, is there anywhere I can get more information?

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have produced a Forced Marriage: A Survivor’s Handbook. This book will give you useful and practical information to help you take control of your life and focus on the future. The handbook can be downloaded from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/survivors-handbook