Our Forced Marriage Unit is committed to raising awareness about forced marriage across the public sector.  We provide expert advice to professionals, especially those confronted by it for the first time:

• we undertake a broad programme of public speaking and outreach work – contact fmuoutreach@fco.gov.uk for more information
• if a personal visit isn’t possible, we can send an information pack (including a DVD) to help you give presentations yourselves
• we can also provide training to your staff to help you to help victims of forced marriage
• we’ve also started an awareness-raising programme for registrars and will soon publish a handbook of legal remedies
• we also produce specific guidance for different types of professionals – social and health workers, the police and educational professionals.

Guidance for professionals

You can download the guidance leaflets in PDF format below. Or you can order hard copies by emailing us at fmu@fco.gov.uk or calling us on 020 7008 0151.

Information for Social Workers

Information for Police

Information for Education Professionals

Information for Health Professionals

The Department for Children, School and Families, as part of its Every Child Matters Campaign, has produced materials specifically for schools and young people to raise awareness of the issues surrounding forced marriage and provide information about sources of support.

The materials have been devleoped in consultation with schools, young people, local authorities and voluntary sector organisations, and are designed to be eye-catching and appealing to young people, with content appropriate to them.

Every Child Matters forced marriage materials and Every Child Matters forced marriages pages

Copies of the posters, leaflets and cards can be ordered from the Forced Marriage Unit by emailing fmu@fco.gov.uk

Warning signs

Young people rarely feel able to disclose their feelings about forced marriage.  However there are some warning signs that may indicate the possibility of an impending forced marriage:

• extended absence from school/college, truancy, drop in performance, low motivation, excessive parental restriction and control of movements and history of siblings leaving education to marry early
• poor attendance in the workplace, poor performance, parental control of income and limited career choices
• evidence of self-harm, treatment for depression, attempted suicide, social isolation, eating disorders or substance abuse
• evidence of family disputes/conflict, domestic violence/abuse or running away from home.

A young person demonstrating any of the above may not be necessarily at risk, but if you feel concerned about a potential forced marriage you should contact us on 020 7008 0151.

Policy background

In 2000 we agreed a Joint Action Plan with the Home Office, other government departments, voluntary organisations and the police.  The Joint Action Plan was a response to the report of the working group on forced marriages entitled ‘A Choice By Right’ (PDF).

There was a national consultation on forced marriage in 2005.  Following this the government decided not to create a specific criminal offence of forcing someone into marriage, but to increase non-legislative measures - including more provision of training to professionals.

The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007

This will come into force in autumn 2008. The Forced Marriage Act will give the courts a wide discretion to deal flexibly with each individual case, employing civil remedies that will offer protection to victims without criminalising family members.