1. 6 updates

Warning over forced marriages

Teachers, doctors and airport staff have been warned to stay alert to forced marriages over the school holiday period.

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Charity: 'Forced marriage is a global problem'

The chief executive of children's charity Plan UK has said that forced marriage is a 'global problem' and is not just restricted to developing countries.

Plan's experience demonstrates that, besides pursuing legal recourse, it is critical to engage communities through religious and cultural leaders to raise awareness of the dangers it poses to girls' health, educational prospects and their ability to reach their full potential.

Plan UK continues to be a strong supporter of UK cross-government action to scale up programmes and policy dialogue to end child marriage.

– Chief executive of children's charity Plan UK, Tanya Barron

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Bryant criticises gov't timing on forced marriage warning

Shadow Immigration Minister, Chris Bryant MP has said the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU), a joint operation by the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, should have issued a warning about the rise in forced marriage reports before the summer holidays.

Forcing a young person into taking part in a sham marriage is a despicable act that the Government should be doing everything in its power to prevent, and raising awareness of these issues is to be welcomed. But I can’t help thinking that, given it’s been weeks since pupils and teachers started their holidays, it might have been more useful if Jeremy Browne and his Home Office colleagues had thought to do this before schools broke up for the summer.

– Chris Bryant MP

Read: Cards issued to youngsters in danger of forced marriages

Browne: 'Shocking' rise in forced marriage reports

Crime prevention minister Jeremy Browne has said the rise in forced marriage reports over the school holidays period is "shocking".

Teenagers expecting their GCSE or A-level results should be embarking on a bright future, not condemned to a marriage with someone they have never met and do not want to marry.

This is a serious abuse of human rights and that is why we are legislating to make it illegal.

My message to young people who feel they are at risk is, please come forward - you do not have to suffer in silence, there is help available and it can be stopped.

Read: Warning over forced marriage in school holiday period

Cards issued to youngsters in danger of forced marriages

Teachers, doctors, and airport staff have been issued with cards they can give to youngsters who they think are in danger of being involved in forced marriages.

The 'Marriage: it's your choice' card is a concise and accessible way to receive information that could save someone's life.

It's vital that young people travelling abroad for a family wedding this summer realise it could be their own wedding they'll be going to - and know who they should contact for help should they find themselves in danger.

– Aneeta Prem, the founder of Freedom Charity

The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) earlier this year revealed it helped in 1,485 cases of possible forced marriage in 2012, involving 60 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America.

The statistics for last year show that of the 744 cases where the age was known, more than 600 involved people under the age of 26.

Warning over forced marriage in school holiday period

Between June and August last year, the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) received more than 400 reports. Credit: Niall Carson/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Teachers, doctors and airport staff have been warned to stay alert to forced marriages over the school holiday period.

Summer marks a peak in reports of forced marriage cases, when youngsters can be taken on "holiday", unaware of the real purpose of the trip, the Home Office said.

Between June and August last year, the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU), a joint operation by the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, received more than 400 reports.

The unit is handing out "Marriage: it's your choice" cards to provide help and information to potential victims, pointing them to confidential advice.

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