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.
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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.