forced marriag

[brionon]

Tonight the BBC asks ''Is is time to make forced marriages illegal?'' You mean it isn't already ?

[El D]

I think I started a question on this ages ago and it was quite surprising the number of people who came out of the woodwork to defend this archaic and degrading practise.

[bernardo]

I think that the existing law does not properly distinguish between forced marriages and arranged marriages, i.e. it is regarded as a quaint cultural thing rather than an oppressive thing.  But in cases of forced marriage, people are sometimes prosecuted for other related offences such as abduction, false imprisonment, blackmail, etc. (because anyone who is the subject of a forced marriage is almost certainly the victim of other crimes which go along with it).  I agree with the implication in your question, i.e. that it should become a specific offence, so that it will be easier to prosecute cases.

[Dom Tuk]

I agree with the above posts and think it should be made a specific offence. Now to draft the new legislation and hire well paid lawyers, think tanks etc will cost atleast 10 million sterling. To publicise it, print the legislation, distribute and train will cost another �10 million. Like many other govt initiatives that is where it will end. There will hardly be any prosecution as it will be very difficult to prove and family members will not make statements if one of their own will go to prison. Waste of money in my opinion, but then someone has to do it.