Forced Marriages

[Gin96]

Why are forced marriage numbers going up? Why are British girls not being protected and why is this not out dated in this day and age 😞
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45068360

Sadly I think this sums it up, regardless of what the Home Office says:

"Even when officials know it's a forced marriage, they see tradition, culture or religion and they're reticent to deal with it. They are turning a blind eye."

No tradition, culture or religion should be above criticism or the law.

It’s so cruel to bring your children to the UK for a better life, they have the freedom of a British girl, friends, education, hopes and dreams taken away, to force them to marry a stranger and live another country with different values is beyond cruel 😞

You are so right.
There is no point in having prevention programmes, protection orders, laws and processes to protect British women when the friggin Home Office won't do its job.

Of the 88 cases of forced marriages, 42 men were nevertheless given visas and 10 are awaiting the outcome of an appeal. The Home Secretary can only say "something more must be done". Yes, Home Sec - examine your dept.

On the plus side, I'm aware of fantastic work to prevent forced marriages occuring in the first place. What I don't know is how many girls escaped rape, sexual assault and forced marriage through intervention, refuges, help-lines and protection orders.

There are definitely some things that could be put in place easily.

1. Increase the age at which spousal visas will be considered to a minimum of 21 for both parties. (And increase the marriage age within the UK to 18).

2. Allow women to report their concerns anonymously or in confidence., so their family don't find out they've reported.

And as a more general measure (both for women in forced marriages and women in abusive relationships), roll back austerity cuts to benefits, so that women can leave abusive marriages without running the risk of being homeless or not having enough money for food.

Part of the problem is that most people are too PC to criticise the questionable aspects of some religions for fear of being seen racist (despite Islam being a religion not a race). Most often it is generalised into being a 'male' issue, despite the average Western male not being in any way connected.

I agree, it needs to be stopped, these are British girls that are going to British schools they should be protected.