Call to end forced marriage

Crime Minister Jeremy Browne has told Daybreak that the Government is still fully committed to criminalising breaches of forced-marriage.

He said: "We have to send a very clear signal as a modern advanced country that this is something that is not tolerated in this society.

"I think that this is important that we have a framework of law that supports that as well."

The Government is releasing an awareness video to highlight the different aspects of forced marriage.

The video is part of the Government's campaign to tackle violence against women, including stalking, domestic violence and domestic violence within gay and transgender relationships.

The videos will be online today at www.youtube.com/user/ukhomeoffice

The Forced Marriage Unit works with embassy staff to rescue British nationals who may have been forced into a marriage overseas.

In the UK, the FMU assists actual and potential victims of forced marriage, as well as professionals working in the social, educational and health sectors.

The Government is publishing a summary of its progress over the last year in tackling forced marriage.

In the report the Government will announce the intention to criminalise forced marriage and breach of a Forced Marriage Protection Order.

Crime Prevention Minister Jeremy Browne has announced extra support to tackle violence against women and girls.

This includes a £150,000 fund for domestic homicide reviews to help local areas prevent future domestic violence tragedies, and the launch of a declaration against FGM and additional £50,000 funding to support front-line agencies tackling the problem.

A forced marriage is a marriage where one or both people do not (or in the case of some people with learning or physical disabilities, cannot) consent to the marriage and pressure or abuse is used.

The pressure put on people to marry against their will can be physical (including threats, actual physical violence and sexual violence) or emotional and psychological.

In some cases people may be taken abroad without knowing that they are to be married.

Forced marriage is an abuse of human rights, a form of violence against women and men, where it affects children, child abuse and where it affects those with disabilities abuse of vulnerable people

• In 2011 there were 1468 instances where the Forced Marriage Unit gave advice or support related to a possible forced marriage.

• There were 66 instances involving those with disabilities (56 with learning disabilities, 8 with physical disabilities and 2 with both), and 10 instances involving victims who identified themselves as LGBT.

• Of the 1468 instances, 78 per cent were female and 22 per cent male.

In June this year, the Government announced its intention to criminalise forced marriage.

Forcing someone to marry will become a criminal offence in England and Wales, the Prime Minister announced.

The new law will be accompanied by a range of measures to increase protection and support for victims and a continuing focus on prevention.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "“Forced marriage is abhorrent and is little more than slavery. To force anyone into marriage against their will is simply wrong and that is why we have taken decisive action to make it illegal."

However the Government have yet to announce when this will happen.

The Government is publishing a summary of its progress over the last year in tackling violence against women from stalking and domestic violence to forced marriage.

The Home Office is also releasing four awareness videos to highlight a different aspect of violence towards women.