Forced Marriage

Forced marriage is when one or both people don’t or can’t consent to marriage and pressure or abuse is used to force them to marry.  

Forced marriage is illegal in the UK. It is a form of domestic abuse.

Forced marriage affects both men and women. However, many reported cases involve girls and women aged between 16 and 25 years. It can affect people who don’t have the mental capacity to consent to marriage and also those who do. Pressure can include physical threats of violence or sexual violence, or emotional and psychological pressure, such as being made to feel like they are bringing shame on their family.

Forced marriage is different from arranged marriage, where families of both spouses are involved but the choice to accept the arrangement remains with the individuals.

Forced Marriage Protection Orders can be applied to protect people from forced marriage.

Forced marriage and children: 

The legal age for marriage in England and Wales is 18, 16 with parental consent in Northern Ireland, and 16 in Scotland. Laws are under review in Scotland and Northern Ireland for the minimum age to be raised to 18. Using pressure or coercion to force someone of any age to marry is illegal across the UK.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 covers England, Scotland and Wales. That law states that doing anything to cause a child to marry before they are 18 is forced marriage, whether or not coercion is used.