Mandy Sanghera

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While victims of honour violence are often female, males may also be targeted by this kind of oppression and violence for a number of reasons:
Actual or perceived homosexuality
Dating outside of the cultural community
Resisting an arranged marriage
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Victims of honour violence are targeted because their actual or perceived behaviour is deemed by their family or community to be shameful or to violate cultural or religious norms.
Honour violence can take many forms, including verbal/emotional abuse, threats, stalking, harassment, false imprisonment, physical violence, sexual abuse, and homicide.
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A forced marriage occurs when an individual is forced, coerced, threatened, or tricked to marry without her informed consent.
A marriage conducted without the valid consent of one or both parties and where duress is a factor.
The DIFFERENCE between ‘arranged’ and
‘forced’........
An ‘arranged marriage’ is one where parents or other relatives would have chosen the person they are to be with, but both individuals involved have the final say and CAN SAY NO to the suitors they are presented with.
Forced marriage is an abuse of human rights .
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Physical abuse.
Sexual abuse.
Emotional / Psychological abuse.
Financial / material abuse.
Discriminatory.
Institutional.
Neglect and acts of omission.
Over-medicated
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Forced marriage

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There is no ‘typical’ picture of a person forced to marry
82% female/18% male (reported to FMU)
Majority reported to date in UK involve South
Asian families
There have been cases involving East Asian,
Middle Eastern, European, African and Gypsy and Traveller communities.
People with learning and/or physical disabilities or mental health difficulties

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Some take place in the UK in registry offices or places of worship, some involve no overseas element, others involve a person coming from overseas
Others take place abroad
Reports of engagements and marriages taking place over the telephone

2012: FMU gave advice or support to almost 1500 cases related to possible forced marriage.
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Oldest victim was 71; youngest was 2.
13% of calls involved victims below 15 yrs.
22% involved victims aged 16-17
49% involved victims aged 18-25
8% involved victims aged 26-30
82% involved female victims and 18% involved male victims.
114 instances involving those with disabilities and cases are almost equal
48% Male and 52% female
22 instances involved victims who identified as LGBT
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Fear
Isolation
No trusted person to talk to
Might not speak English
Might have communication impairment
Might not understand what is happening
May not know who to contact

Same as previous plus:
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Obtaining a carer for the person with learning disability
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Obtaining physical assistance for ageing parents
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Believing marriage will cure disability
Belief that marriage is a rite of passage for all young people
Obtain financial security for the person with learning disability
Mistrust of the ‘system’
Fear young siblings will be seen as ‘undesirable’
Obtaining financial reward (eg Reading case)
Marriage seen as ‘right’ and/or ‘only’ option

•Truancy or extended absence
•Withdrawn from school
•Surveillance by siblings
•Prevented from going to higher education
•Not allowed to work
•Confiscation of wages/income
•Accompanied to/from work
Employment
Education
•Siblings forced to marry
•Death of a parent
•Family disputes
•Running away from home
•“House arrest”
Family
History
Health
•Self harm or attempted suicide
•Eating disorders
•Depression
•Isolation
•Accompanied to doctor’s
Police
Involvement
•Victim reported missing by family
•Reports of DV
•Threats to kill
•Victim reported for offences
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Person with learning disability talking about marriage, jewellery, wedding clothes
Family member raising concerns that a relative may be/has been forced into marriage or informing a professional that their relative is to be married
Family member asking front line professional to sign a passport application form or visa immigration form
Being taken away from the school or day centre/out of the country without explanation.
Change in emotional/behavioural presentation, e.g. becoming anxious, depressed, frightened and emotionally withdrawn or exhibiting joy/excitement.

May only have one chance to speak to the person threatened with forced marriage/already married - may only have one chance to protect or even prevent death.
ADSS have agreed that local authorities will do well being checks and mental capacity assessments

“One chance rule” take it seriously, make it your problem
Ensure Confidentiality – including electronic data systems
Follow multi-agency Safeguarding Board Procedures
Establish contact arrangements
Always think – is this child at risk? If so, ACT

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Concern around cultural sensitivity
 Lack of understanding and awareness of issue and risk
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Underground issue - reluctance of victims to come forward
 Confidentiality & resourcefulness of perpetrators
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Complexity - requires a multi-agency response
 International dimension - unsure how to react
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The Children’s Act 1989 - required to fix problems through family, leads to mediation
 Risks to victims does not end.

Forced Marriage offence
Maximum penalty on conviction on indictment will imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years and/or a fine.
Maximum penalty on summary conviction will be imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months imprisonment and/or a fine. Future for Victims....
FMPO breach
Maximum penalty on conviction on indictment will imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years and/or a fine.
Maximum penalty on summary conviction will be imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months imprisonment and/or a fine.

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Although forcing someone into a marriage and/or luring someone overseas for the purpose of marriage will become a criminal offence – the civil
route and the use of FMPOs will still be available and can be used as an alternative to entering the
Criminal Justice System.
It may be the case that perpetrators will automatically be prosecuted if it is overwhelmingly in the public interest to do so, however, victims should be able to choose how they want to be assisted.

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All procedures which involve the partial or total removal of the external genitalia or injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural or any other non-therapeutic reasons
The World Health Organisation

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Type 1 - removal of the clitoral hood with or without the removal of the clitoris
Type 2 - removal of the clitoris and partial or total removal of the vaginal lips
Type 3 - removal of the clitoris, vaginal lips and the stitching of the vagina, leaving a 1-2cm opening
Type 4 - piercing the clitoris, cauterisation, cutting the vagina, inserting corrosive substances

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2 million girls around the world every year are mutilated
Mainly African and Middle Eastern countries and alarmingly now in the immigrant population of Europe, America and Australia
It is estimated that as many as 6500 girls are at risk of FGM within the UK every year
Any girl is at risk – usually between 4-14

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28 practising countries in particular
Somalia – 98%
Sierra Leone – 90%
Ethiopia - 90%
Sudan – 91%
In Middle East – Egypt – 97%

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Religion is NOT a basis for FGM
Cultural identity – A tribal initiation into adulthood
Gender Identity – Moving from girl to woman – enhancing femininity
Sexual control – believed to reduce the woman’s desire for sex and therefore the possibility of sex outside marriage
Hygiene/cleanliness – unmutilated women are regarded as unclean and not allowed to handle food or water

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Haemorrhage
Severe pain & shock
Urine retention
Infection including tetanus & HIV
Injury to adjacent tissue
Fracture or dislocation to limbs as a result of restraint

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Long-Term
Difficulty with passing urine & chronic urinary tract infections which can lead to renal problems or renal failure
Difficulties with menstruation
Acute & chronic pelvic infections which can lead to infertility
Sexual dysfunction/Psychological/Flashbacks
Complications during pregnancy
Chronic scar formations

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“ Female Genital Mutilation is a fundamental human rights issue with adverse health and social implications… (it) violates the rights of girls and women to bodily integrity and results in perpetuating gender inequality”
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UK All Parliamentary Group on Population Development and
Reproductive Health (2000 )

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Summer is for Fun……Not for Pain
The school summer holidays are a time when it is known that girls are taken out of the country to undergo FGM
Report any concerns. Child protection is everyone’s responsibility
FGM is a serious crime and can be fatal

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The family come from a community that is known to practise FGM
Parents state they will take the child out of the country for a prolonged period
A child may talk about a long holiday to a country where the practice is prevalent
A child may confide that she is to have a
“special procedure” or celebration

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A child may spend long periods of time away from the classroom during the day with bladder or menstrual problems
Prolonged absences from School plus a noticeable behaviour change
The child requiring to be excused from physical exercise without the support of their GP

Any further questions?
Call us: National Helpline 020 7008 0151 ...out of hours
Global Response Centre will assist on same number.
Follow us @fmunit
Email mandysanghera@homail.com
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