Spoons To Help Prevent Forced Marriage

[naomi24]

//A school is attempting to tackle forced marriages by handing out spoons to urge students to hide them in underwear to trigger metal detectors at airports.
Pupils at the Co-operative Academy in Leeds have been told to hide the cutlery there if they fear they are being taken overseas to be married.
It will trigger metal detectors at airports, allowing them to raise the alarm with security staff privately.//

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-44812530

Education is the answer …. Isn’t it?

[ludwig]

Great idea. Anything that helps prevent this barbaric practice has got to be good.

[Sqad]

A great idea....BUT.....how can the authorities prove that the child is being taken away for marriage? Surely the parents will deny this?

[ludwig]

That was my thought too sqad. The child wouldn't know because they're not told. They're told they're going on holiday and then marched of to a ceremony to marry some old peasant when they land.

However, if nothing else it makes the children more aware of what might happen to them and to start thinking about how to avoid it.

[Sqad]

LOL...true ludwig.

[Mamyalynne]

Great that it is encouraging young people to discuss the issue and someone cares enough to try and help - everything has to start somewhere.

[ummmm]

There is a programme going about schools warning girls of the signs.

I always get stopped going through security, no idea why, but it'll take seconds to tell security of your fears. As long as security know.

[Canary42]

/// Education is the answer …. Isn’t it? ///

Certainly a better answer than this spoons gimmick - the parents' overbearing control will overcome this before it gets off the ground.

[ummmm]

How will they?

[Canary42]

By searching the kids of course

[steg]

They’ll feed their kids with plastic cutlery

[dannyk13]

Canary, for what reason would they want to search their daughter?

[Sqad]

I am sure that the authorities at security will hardly relish the thought of an argument between daughter and parents at the head of a long queue.
It is a non starter.

[ummmm]

OK...so it'll be really hard to hide a spoon in your luggage. If it helps just one person it's worth a go.

[ummmm]

A lot of these girls go alone thinking they are staying with relatives. Once past departures anyone not flying isn't allowed in.

[dannyk13]

Sqad, if an alarm went off they would take the girl to a room away from the queue.

[andres]

Now this idea has been broadcast how will it help the children?
First thing now is that the parents will search them before they get to the scanners. Any child found with a spoon tucked in their underwear will face a miserable time once the parents get them back home.
Most Asian kids these days are well aware of forced marriages. They have been here long enough to be Westernised. It's the parents who need educating and how that will be achieved is anyone's guess.

[ummmm]

No, Danny, they don't take you away. They pat you down or take swabs but it gives you those minutes to tell them your fears.

[Sqad]

danny...the might......but here would be a bit of a" kuffufle" and i wouldn't want to be behind them in the queue.
They are more likely to do a body search on the spot.