FORCED MARRIAGE CONFERENCE
Mariam Elmirghani - Director South East Wales
1
BAWSO- WHO WE ARE
Established in 1995
All Wales organisation delivering specialist services to Black
and Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities who are
marginalised.
Accredited Support Provider for the Welsh Government.
Bawso holds Investors in People award
Has received the Quality Mark at General Advice Level by
the Legal Services Commission.
Human Resources
• 98 Staff
• 10 Board Members
• 149 volunteers
• 152 Interpreters
Supported 4613
Core Service Delivery Projects
• Refuges
• Safe houses
• Floating Support Units
• Tenant Support Units
• Independent Domestic Violence Projects (IDVA)
• Outreach Project
• 24 Hr Help Line
• Advice & Information
Specialist Services
• Young People’s Project
• Forced Marriage/HBV
• Older People’s Project
• Female Genital
• FGM Project
Mutilation
• No Recourse to public
New Projects
Funds
• Mental Health
• Trafficking and
Prostitution
2
Edward T Hall:
The Iceberg analogy of culture
3
Honour/IZZAT
Izzat consists of a learnt complex set of rules that one has to follow in order to protect
the family ‘name’ and maintain family position within the community
WHAT IS IZZAT? - Women’s quotes
“It’s like the weather, you can’t question it, ….. izzat is special control”
“It has more impact on the woman’s life than the man’s. It affects how she dresses, behaves inside
and outside the house, who she can talk to, marry, and have as friends”
Arranged Marriage
vs.
Forced Marriage
Arranged marriage
Families of both spouses take a leading role
Arrangements are made with the consent of both parties
Choice is given to young people
What factors can be considered when arranging a
marriage?
Attributes for an ideal match (bride & groom)
Caste
Reputation of the family
Dowry
Appearance
Height/weight
Profession
Religion
Wealth
Age
Forced Marriage
Definition:
Any marriage conducted without the valid consent of one or both parties where duress is
a factor (FMU 2000)
Motives behind Forced Marriage
Strengthen Family links
Assist Citizenship & UK residence
applications
Fulfil a long standing promise
Care for a disabled child
Ensure that wealth, land or property
remains within the family
To “cure” homosexuality
Discourage sexual activities or sex
before marriage
Mohammad 40
Gulam 11
Dr Humaira Abedin 35
Bawso Case Studies
13
Case Study 1:
Naima, 17 years old student who enjoyed college and dreamt of completing her studies and
joining the fashion industry. Although Naima enjoys her life, and has good friends and is quite
popular amongst her peers, she always carried the fear and burden of knowing that her
marriage will be arranged one day by her parents and that she will be married off as her older
sister to a distant relative.
One day, Naima overheard her father speaking on the phone about the family being honoured
by a marriage proposal and that he will be speaking to his wife and daughter about it. Naima
knew that her time has come, but she carried on as normal. Later on, she confided in a teacher
who supported her to access help, and she was able to discreetly flee her home before
arrangements were made for her to travel abroad for the wedding.
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Case Study 2:
Sara is a 19 year old BME girl who was born in Wales. Although she understood her roots, valued
her upbringing and family traditions, she never had the opportunity to visit her parents’ country
of origin. Sara grew in a somewhat culture of contradiction, where she conducted herself and
dressed in a certain way at home, but had a different life outside her home and community. She
finished her schooling and got a job in a sales and marketing company, where she met someone
and started dating.
As a result of her work, and relationship, Sara felt empowered and assertive enough to inform
her parents that she was gay, and that she is in a relationship with someone at work. Sara’s
parents’ attitude and behaviour changed towards her. She faced physical and verbal abuse,
forced to leave work, and was locked inside the house. Her parents advised her that she must
honour them by accepting a marriage proposal to someone they approve of. She was given an
ultimatum to either accept their wishes, or be disowned.
15
Case Study 3:
Abdul approached Bawso’s office along with his friend one morning. They advised that they
were told that the organisation offers help to people from abroad, particularly those who have
problems at home. He turned up with a suitcase, and asked for assistance to return home.
Abdul disclosed that he was born in Afghanistan, and that he came to the UK following an
arranged marriage to a daughter of a highly regarded family at home. Abdul spoke limited
English, but his friend interpreted for him. He stated that he discovered a number of things that
he did not know about his bride prior to their marriage. He was not aware that she had one
failed engagement, a failed marriage, issues with her mental health and that the family did not
have the best reputation locally.
Although he tried to give his marriage a good go, Abdul stated that her brothers interfered in
their marriage. He was threatened by them, and was beaten the previous day due to false
allegations she made against him. She withheld his passport, controlled him financially, and did
not help him get work.
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Safeguarding considerations
Is it a form of child/adult abuse?
Neglect?
Families are concerned about the future and welfare of their child
Does it warrant child protection measures?
Barriers to seeking Help
Disowned by family and wider community
 Immigration status (no recourse to public funds)
 Language
Not aware of services
 Lack of information and access to help
Displacement/ loss of identity
Limited finance (Benefits)
Victims can be seen as morally corrupt
 Fear of being found – bounty hunters, reprisals
 Fear of living independently
Some practice barriers
“Not high on safeguarding agenda” demographics, CSE, Neglect etc.
Legalities: Understanding and utilising legislation & Lack of legal practitioners in Wales
Multi-agency working
Work within the community and with young people
Long term support and aftercare
The One Chance Rule
All Wales Child Protection Procedures
All Wales Flowchart for Practitioners when dealing with a disclosure or concern
identified of Forced Marriage
http://awcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/All-Wales-GuidanceFlowchart-FM-final-eng.pdf
Forced Marriage Unit
Joint initiative between FCO & HO
Set up in 2005 to lead the government’s policy on Forced Marriage (including case+outreach
work).
In 2014, they dealt with 1267 cases (involving over 88 countries)
56% of the cases involved individuals under the age of 17 years old.
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Bawso-Wales Data
Not all cases are known to FMU & limited legal remedies
year
11 - 12
12 -13
13 -14
14 - 15
Total
FM
18
26
16
38
98
HBV
21
31
32
38
122
FM/HBV
8
6
12
19
45
Total
47
63
60
95
265
22
Bawso Statistics
FM/FGM/HBV Stats for the last 5 Years
40
38
38
35
32
31
30
26
25
21
20
19
18
16
15
12
10
8
6
5
0
FM
HBV
11 - 12
12 -13
13 -14
FM/HBV
14 - 15
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Bawso Statistics
(Ethnicity)
Ethnicity for FM/HBV Service Users 11 -15
Gypsy Traveller
1%
Middle Eastern
14%
Afro Caribbean
1%
African
10%
African Somali
5%
Far East Asian
8%
European
3%
British Born Asian
5%
Asian
53%
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The legal remedies
2005: Consultation document on criminalisation of FM, called: A Wrong Not a
Right
2007: Forced Marriage Civil Protection Act 2007 (FMPO/disobeying an order = 5
years in prison)
2014: The Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 (up to 7 years in
prison)
First UK conviction
June 2015, Wales-Cardiff, High profile case
Years of systematic abuse, rape, hidden cameras at home.
Perpetrator blackmailed victim into marrying him
Victim had substantial support from family
Perpetrator sentenced to 16 years imprisonment (4 counts of rape, forced
marriage, bigamy, and voyeurism)
24 HOUR HELPLINE 0800 7318147
Cardiff
Merthyr
9, Cathedral Road,
Cardiff,
CF11 9HA
info@bawso.org.uk
Tel: 02920 644633
Fax: 02920 644588
Teulu Mac
47-48 Pontmorlais West
Merthyr Tydfil
CF47 8UN
Merthyr@bawso.org.uk
Tel: 01685 375394
Fax : 01685
Newport
Information Station
Old Station Building
Queensway, Newport
NP20 4AX
newport@bawso.org.uk
Tel: 01633 213213
Fax: 01633 213219
WWW.BAWSO.ORG.UK
Swansea
Wrexham
63 Mansel Street
Swansea
SA1 5TN
swansea@bawso.org.uk
Tel: 01792 642003
Fax: 01792 646207
33 Grosvenor Road
Wrexham
LL11 1BT
wrexham@bawso.org.uk
Tel: 01978 355818
Fax: 01978 355707