21
ISSUES: Marriage
Chapter 1: Marriage
with what you’re going through. You
can contact a counsellor in private at
any time and talk about anything.
If you’re being taken to another
country to get married
If your parents or someone else is
taking you to another country to force
you to get married, this is wrong. It is
also breaking the law. But you can get
help.
If you know you are going to be taken
out of the country you can contact
Childline or the Forced Marriage Unit
and explain what is happening.
Ö
Ö
Get a Forced Marriage Protection
Order. The Forced Marriage Unit
can help you get this. It’s a legal
document that can stop you
being taken abroad and forced
into marriage. It can also help
bring you back to the UK if you
are taken out of the country. If
a court makes an order for you,
they will protect you from anyone
trying to force you into marriage.
Ö
Ö
Speak to security staff at the
airport if you’re already at the
airport or travelling. You can
speak to airport police officers, or
call 999 for urgent help.
Ö
Ö
Think very carefully before you
leave the country. It could be
much harder to get help when
you are abroad.
Ö
Ö
Tell someone you trust. Try to let a
trusted adult or close friend know
that you’re being taken away and
keep their contact details with
you.
Ö
Ö
Think of a code word that will let
someone you trust know you’re
in danger that only you and they
know.
Ö
Ö
Take information with you like
contact details for the Forced
Marriage Unit or British Embassy
in the country you are visiting in
case you need help.
If you’re already abroad
You might think you’re going on a
family holiday but then realise that
plans have been made for you to get
married. In some cultures, families
might plan a holiday around the time
of religious festivals.
It can be very scary if you are already
abroad and then realise what is
happening.
You
could
contact
someone who you trust in the UK
who could tell your teacher or let the
police know. They can tell the Forced
Marriage Unit who could help you
return. You could also contact the
British Embassy in the country where
you are – they can get help for you to
leave the country and stay safe.
If you worry your parents will
disown you if you don’t
If your parents have threatened to
harm you or to disown you if you don’t
go ahead with a forced marriage, you
can get help. You don’t have to cope
on your own. There are organisations
like the Karma Nirvana and Freedom
Charity that support young people
who have nowhere to go. They can
work with social services to get you
help with finding a place to stay.
Childline is a safe place to talk and
the counsellors can help you find the
support you need.
Is it different to an arranged
marriage?
A forced marriage is different from an
arranged marriage.
Arranged marriage:
Ö
Ö
is a cultural tradition
Ö
Ö
you have a choice.
Forced marriage:
Ö
Ö
is an abuse of human rights
Ö
Ö
you don’t have a choice.
Sometimes an arranged marriage can
lead to a forced marriage. For example,
if you agree tomarry someone but then
change your mind and decide not to.
If your parents or family don’t accept
your decision and still make you go
ahead with the marriage, this becomes
a forced marriage.
If you need support and someone to
talk to, you can and speak to one of
our counsellors. It’s free to call and
confidential.
Ö
Ö
The above information is reprinted
withkindpermissionfromChildline.
Please visit
for further information.
© Childline 2017
