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Posts Tagged ‘forced marriage’

Courts step in to stop nine-year-old girl from being sent to Afghanistan to marry her cousin, 18

Police and social workers stepped in to stop a nine-year-old girl from being sent to Afghanistan to marry an 18-year-old cousin, a judge heard.

The girl’s mother had told social services staff that her father was planning the trip, Mr Justice MacDonald heard. Another judge had made both parents the subject of forced marriage protection orders after child protection specialists began legal moves.

Orders barred the couple from ‘permitting’ the girl to ‘undergo marriage’. Detail of the case has emerged in a ruling by Mr Justice MacDonald following a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

The girl had been temporarily taken into local authority care in the wake of her mother’s allegation

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3412260/Courts-step-stop-nine-year-old-girl-sent-Afghanistan-marry-cousin-18.html#ixzz3xzYJcEqd

Forced marriage to be made illegal under new strategy

Ireland will introduce a specific offence of forced marriage as part of the Government’s new strategy for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, it has been announced.

The issue of forced marriage is not currently dealt with directly by Irish law but the proposed offence category, which may become active by the end of next year, will target the “intentional conduct of luring an adult or a child . . . with the purpose of forcing [them] to enter into a marriage”.

The strategy further clarifies that any new offence of luring a person abroad for a forced marriage “would need to be indictable”. The Department of Justice has already announced plans to abolish exemptions for underage marriages, which is expected to have the additional benefit of protecting minors against forced marriage. The move comes after the UK introduced laws for cases of forced marriage 18 months ago.

Read More: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/forced-marriage-to-be-made-illegal-under-new-strategy-1.2504367

CASH-HIT CHARITY WHICH RESCUES WOMEN FROM FORCED MARRIAGE FACES CLOSURE

An award-winning charity, which rescues women from forced marriage and hundreds of young people from radicalisation, faces closure in a matter of months if it does not receive further funding.

Founded in 1989, JAN Trust was originally set up to support marginalised and isolated communities in north London, but has since expanded to reach people across the UK.

However, it only has sufficient funds to keep its services running until March 31 this year.

ajda Mughal, director of the charity, said that their work had “saved lives” and that she would “dread to think” of the consequences if the charity closes down.

“We have worked one-on-one with victims and intervened in cases of honour-based violence within families, FGM (female genital mutilation), forced marriage, and even cases where a woman’s life has been at risk at the hands of her own family.

Read More: http://www.careappointments.co.uk/care-news/england/item/38808-cash-hit-charity-which-rescues-women-from-forced-marriage-faces-closure

Met police not prepared in dealing with honour crimes, new report finds

The Metropolitan police (MPS) needs to be more prepared for how it would protect victims of honour based violence.

A new report, the first of its kind on honour crimes, found the force is under-prepared in keeping victims of forced marriages and female genital mutilation safe.

The report, carried out by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), identified that the MPS struggled with enforcing protection and preventing the crimes from taking place. Honour-based violence is the term used to refer to practices used to control the behaviour of women and girls in order to protect supposed cultural and religious beliefs.

The London Borough of Hounslow was recognised last week for its work to eradicate violence against women, but it appears more work is yet to be done across London. A spokesperson for the Met told Getwestlondon: “The MPS is committed to continuing to work with affected communities, health, education, social care and other partners to tackle and eradicate honour-based abuse and harmful practises in all its forms.

“By working with affected communities, charities and public services, we aim to get a better understanding of the risks faced by victims to prevent such crimes taking place, safeguard victims and where appropriate bring offenders to justice.”

Read More: http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/met-police-not-prepared-dealing-10565981http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/met-police-not-prepared-dealing-10565981

Forced marriage victims in Bedfordshire urged to come forward and seek support

BEDFORDSHIRE police is calling for victims of forced marriage within the county to seek support as part of its 16 days of action against domestic abuse.

 Around 8,000 to 10,000 forced marriages occur each year within the UK and it remains grossly under-reported.

Last year Bedfordshire Police had 149 reports of honour based abuse or forced marriage, but officers say they know this figure doesn’t paint the real picture and this crime remains hidden for too long. The law to criminalise forced marriage was passed last year and Britain’s first successful forced marriage prosecution happened in June.

Forced marriage protection orders help in disrupting a family’s intention to marry their children off against their will. Police work closely with social services for young people where forced marriage or honour based abuse is an issue to ensure the safeguarding of the child and their siblings, as well as protect them from crime.

Detective Sergeant Elaine Cook, lead for the honour based abuse team at Bedfordshire Police, said: “The safeguarding of those subject to this brutality is a priority for Bedfordshire Police. The introduction of forced marriage protection orders has seen an impact in girls having the confidence to speak out and families being aware that this protection is available.

Read more: http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/Forced-marriage-victims-Bedfordshire-urged-come/story-28273826-detail/story.html#ixzz3t4KbHfsT

Newham has second highest number of reported honour based crime in London

Statistics from a Freedom of Information request to the Met revealed that Newham had 59 reports of honour related crime since 2010.

According to the figures, the borough came joint second with neighbouring Redbridge for the number of reported honour crimes in London, while Brent topped the list with 82 incidents.

Sudarshan Bhuhi, chief executive officer of Stratford charity Aanchal Women’s Aid, said she was not surprised by the figures and that she believes more incidents may be going unreported.

She added: “The issue is quite close to my heart.

“I have been working in here and the economic divide is so diverse – there’s not enough funds for specialised support.” Balvinder Saund, of the Sikh Women’s Alliance (SWA) in Ilford, explained that the “idea of honour” was still present.

“It’s about control and subservience. These old ways of thinking should be left behind – there’s no place for it,” she said. A Newham Council spokesman explained confidential support is available to all victims of domestic and sexual abuse.

Read More: http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/newham_has_second_highest_number_of_reported_honour_based_crime_in_london_1_4295030

Asian trio who rammed their car into the boyfriend of one of their sisters in ‘honour attack’ all avoid prison

Three Asian men who carried out an ‘honour attack’ on the boyfriend of one of their sisters have all avoided prison terms.

Kasim Ali, 25, and his cousins Adeel Ali, 20, and Razi Khalid, 18, targeted Aquib Baig because their family did not approve of him seeing their sister, a court was told. They rammed his car before chasing him into a corner store in Blackburn, Lancashire, where they kicked and beat him in front of horrified shoppers.

Despite a judge condemning the violence, the trio were this week spared jail for their attack on Mr Baig, which took place on April 13. Sentencing them at Preston Crown Court Sessions House, Recorder Julian Shaw told them: ‘There is no place for any religious or honour based violence.

‘It’s abhorrent, it’s against your religion, it’s unlawful. I have had to see the violence perpetrated.

‘Mercifully, perhaps more by luck than judgement, the victim didn’t sustain more serious injuries. ‘He was attacked by all three of you together at the same time despite attempts by member of the public to break it up and despite the perception that he offered no violence towards you at all.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3301689/Asian-trio-carried-honour-attack-Blackburn-avoid-prison.html#ixzz3qRm7wYYj

The Halo Project Charity delivering forced marriage, honour based violence and FGM training across the UK

Wednesday 28/10/2015
Noreen Riaz states – due to our model of delivery and case work, we are able to draw upon expertise and situations which can highlight specific issues for victims. This allows tailored training for a range of professionals based on sector specific needs.

Today, we are in London providing a programme to Refuge and Women’s Aid

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One in 10 forced marriages are in Yorkshire

ONE in ten reports of a suspected forced marriage in the UK come from concerned communities in Yorkshire and the Humber, new statistics show.

As a dangerous window of opportunity approaches for women and men to be taken abroad against their will during half term, the Government is today launching a video with the message that the ‘brutal’ practice will not be tolerated in the region.

Around 120 women and men living across Yorkshire and the Humber received help and support from the Government’s Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) last year in what were potential cases of someone being married against their will.
Pakistan, India and Bangladesh were the most common countries involved in reports to the FMU, however nearly a quarter of cases were from people concerned about a marriage to someone in the UK.

Today the Foreign Office has launched a hard-hitting video showing forced marriage’s devastating impact on the victim and their family, and the criminal consequences of anyone’s involvement in the process.

Read more: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/politics/one-in-10-forced-marriages-are-in-yorkshire-1-7531694#ixzz3pgkEGRpj

 

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