Thread: Plans to outlaw forced marriages shelved

Plans to outlaw forced marriages shelved
By MATTHEW HICKLEY, 14:43pm 7th June 2006

Plans to make forced marriage a specific criminal offence have been dropped by ministers in the face of a backlash from Britain's Muslim community.
The Government unveiled its proposals two years ago amid great fanfare, suggesting that anyone arranging or encouraging a forced marriage - which is thought to blight the lives of thousands of young women from Britain's Asian community each year - should face jail sentences.
But yesterday the Home Office admitted it would not be pursuing the plans, and would instead encourage the police and courts to make use of existing laws.
The Muslim Council of Britain opposed the plan, claiming it would see children having to give evidence at their parents' trials, and could lead to the Muslim community being further 'stigmatised.'
Ministers have admitted they feared a new law would be 'resented as an intrusion into minority cultures and religions.'
But yesterday charities and campaigners voiced bitter disappointment over the U-turn, while critics accused the Government of grabbing headlines over the issue but failing to take real action.
Thousands of young - mostly Muslim - women are thought to be subjected to forced marriages each year, although the true scale of the problem is hidden behind a code of silence.
Many are forced to wed after being tricked into going abroad - often to visit family in Asian countries.
Even when cases come to light the police often struggle to press charges, while women who dare to rebel and run away typically become outcasts - often pursued by professional bounty hunters hired by furious families.
Extreme cases have led to 'honour killings' where young women have been murdered for bringing shame on their families.
A special Foreign Office unit has helped more than 1,250 people since it was set up six years ago, rescuing up to 200 a year from abroad, and helping them return to Britain.
Most cases involve South Asian countries but officials have seen examples from Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and even the U.S.
Ministers first announced proposals 18 months ago whereby it would have become a crime to pressure anyone into marrying under duress, or to encourage or arrange for a person to travel abroad for the purpose of a forced marriage.
But yesterday Home Office minister Baroness Scotland said no such crime would be created, for fear that it would do more harm than good by driving the practice further underground, with victims discouraged from coming forward for fear that their parents would be jailed.
In a consultation exercise almost half of those with experience of forced marriage were either in favour or partially in favour of a new law. But overall some 80 per cent of respondents believed new legislation would not be in the best interest of victims, with little support among police or prosecutors.
The Muslim Council of Britain said criminalising forced marriage was not the solution, as it would lead to children having to take their parents to court.
Dr Reefat Drabu, who chairs the council's social and family affairs committee, told a recent conference that while forced marriage was a crime it could be dealt with by existing laws, warning that creating a new offence could become 'another way to further stigmatize our communities.'
Last night the children's charity NSPCC voiced its disappointment.
Head of Policy and Public Affairs Diana Sutton said: 'The coercion involved in forced marriage is abusive and a violation of children’s human rights.
'We know that forced marriage can have serious harmful consequences for children including physical, emotional and sexual abuse, kidnap, rape and self harm.
'In the most tragic cases it can result in murder and suicide. In the longer term, many women forced in to marriage suffer domestic violence, whose impact on children is now widely documented.'
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: 'The Government seems to be ignoring the views of the victims of this abhorrent practice. We remain to be convinced that ministers will use their existing powers to stamp out this degrading and vile practice.'
He said the Government's eagerness to launch a campaign even though the new law was later shelved suggested ministers were 'more interested in grabbing headlines than delivering results.'