Transcript Portsmouth Presentation

Forced Marriage Unit
Forced Marriage Unit:
April 2009
Farhana Aktar
© Forced Marriage Unit
Forced Marriage Unit
Forced Marriage in the UK
“A marriage conducted without the valid consent of
both parties where duress (emotional pressure in
addition to physical abuse) is a factor.”
- A Choice by Right (June 2000)
April 2009
Farhana Aktar
© Forced Marriage Unit
Forced Marriage Unit
Scale of the problem:
London
East
67
129
Southwest
33
E. Mids
94
W. Mids
208
Northeast
51
Northwest
197
Yorks & Humber
134
Scotland
44
Wales
34
Unknown
Total - All Reportings
April 2009
Scotland
3%
339
Southeast
N. Ireland
Total of Reportings where
region known
2008 UK Region of Case Origin (all reportings)
1
Wales N. Ireland
3%
0%
Yorks &
Humber
10%
London
25%
Northwest
15%
East
5%
Southeast
10%
Northeast
4%
W. Mids
16%
1331
E. Mids
7%
Southwest
2%
287
1618
Farhana Aktar
© Forced Marriage Unit
Forced Marriage Unit
Who are we and what can we do to help?
• FCO offering consular assistance since 1999.
• 2005: Forced Marriage Unit established.
• FMU is now the Government’s one-stop shop for:
• Developing effective Government policy
• Awareness raising
• Casework
– Reluctant Sponsors
– Consular
– Domestic
What do we do … in the UK?
•
Reassure confidentiality
•
Provide support, information and contacts (lawyers, social services, refuges, counsellors, voluntary organisations)
•
Work with police, social workers, teachers, welfare officers, health professionals in UK to protect people at
risk
•
Arrange safe accommodation in UK
•
Provide information on options and services after a forced marriage
April 2009
Farhana Aktar
© Forced Marriage Unit
Forced Marriage Unit
“Razia’s” Story: A Forced Marriage Timeline
•
•
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•
•
Nov 07 Razia (15) taken out of school by father. Taken to Bangladesh
Jan 08 School contacts FMU. A student had approached them after
receiving a text from Razia saying that she was being beaten and that
her family was planning to force her into marriage.
School contacted Razia to ask questions from FMU. Address in
Bangladesh confirmed. Father had believed her to be “perverted” by
the UK and was planning to leave her in Bangladesh for some time.
She was to be married prior to return to UK.
Contact made between Razia and BCG Sylhet.
Competence
established. Had undergone abuse but not in immediate risk of further
abuse or marriage.
Ongoing contact established.
Father was
instructed to bring Razia to the consulate for welfare check.
Razia’s father returned to the UK. She remained in Bangladesh but
said that marriage threat had dissipated after contact from consulate.
April 2009
Farhana Aktar
© Forced Marriage Unit
Forced Marriage Unit
“Razia’s” Story: A Forced Marriage Timeline
•
Feb 08 – Razia contacted BCG, said that her uncles were looking at
potential partners for her. Marriage was imminent.
•
School welfare officer approached father in UK at our request (to
enquiry look routine). He said that he would not return her to the UK.
Solicitor drew up wardship papers.
•
Father made to surrender passport to Tipstaff. Family made Razia call
solicitor to say that she was fine. She then told the solicitor quietly that
her marriage was imminent and that she was terrified.
•
BHC Dhaka carried out a rescue operation, transferred her to our
refuge in Dhaka and arranged for repatriation to the UK.
•
Razia was met off of the plane in the UK by social workers at Heathrow
and transferred into the care of children’s social care.
April 2009
Farhana Aktar
© Forced Marriage Unit
Forced Marriage Unit
Responding to Forced Marriage
“Multicultural sensitivity is no excuse for moral blindness”
- Mike O’Brien former Solicitor General
April 2009
Farhana Aktar
© Forced Marriage Unit
Forced Marriage Unit
Criminalising Forced Marriage
In 2005, the Government carried out a national consultation on whether or not to introduce a specific criminal offence for
forced marriage.
The majority of respondents felt that the disadvantages of new legislation outweighed the advantages.
Many worried that criminalising forced marriage would force the issue underground.
Victims of forced marriage are often unwilling to take action against their parents, and many respondents felt that
the legislation would not be used.
The Government decided not to introduce specific legislation in June 2006.
Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 (England/Wales)
• Courts have power to make Forced Marriage Protection Orders.
• Breach of an injunction would not itself be a criminal offence, but would be a contempt of court. Courts would have the
full range of sanctions available to them, including imprisonment.
• Enables third parties to apply for an injunction on behalf of somebody else.
• Allowed Statutory Guidance on FM to be issued to agencies.
April 2009
Farhana Aktar
© Forced Marriage Unit
Forced Marriage Unit
Some challenges
• Concern around cultural sensitivity
• Lack of understanding of cultural context and responses - lack of
awareness of the seriousness of the abuse
•Underground issue - reluctance of victims to come forward
• Confidentiality & resourcefulness of perpetrators
• Mediation – Don’t Do it!
April 2009
Farhana Aktar
© Forced Marriage Unit
Forced Marriage Unit
Statutory Obligations:
Senior Management Commitment
Defined Roles & Responsibilities
Clear Lines of Accountability
Staff Training & Awareness Raising
Signposting Practice Guidelines
Monitoring and Evaluation
Record Keeping
Risk Assessment
Confidentiality
Victim-centred Approach
Danger of Family Mediation
Agency-specific requirements
FMU Guidelines:
•
Police, Social Services and Health and Education Professionals,,
•
Best practice guidance - UK case & if you hear of someone gone overseas
•
Stakeholder consultation on draft revised multi-agency guidelines
•
Expected to be issued as single volume in Spring 2009
April 2009
Farhana Aktar
© Forced Marriage Unit
Forced Marriage Unit
Some General Principles:
Confidentiality
“One chance rule” – take it seriously, make it your problem
Give advice to stop the victim from going overseas
Consult with forced marriage unit
April 2009
Farhana Aktar
© Forced Marriage Unit
Forced Marriage Unit
Finally… When working with victims/ potential victims
of forced marriage
Remind them that they have rights:
Right only to enter into marriage with their full and free consent
Right to make decisions about their life and their own bodies
Right to education, freedom of movement, freedom of thought
Remind them that they have choices:
To go through with the marriage
To avoid the marriage by fleeing their family
To remain with the family and try to resolve the situation (this
does not usually work and can place them in danger)
To seek legal protection
Refer to FMU and support agencies
April 2009
Farhana Aktar
© Forced Marriage Unit
Forced Marriage Unit
• Do you need further information?
• Please contact:
– [email protected]
– 020 7008 0151
• www.fco.gov.uk/forcedmarriage
• Leaflets and guidance available
April 2009
Farhana Aktar
© Forced Marriage Unit