MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
News Release (No:145/07) issued by The Government News Network on 27
November 2007
A law that
protects victims and potential victims of forced marriage will
come into effect next autumn, Justice Minister Bridget Prentice
said today.
The new law will enable courts to make orders to prevent forced
marriages and to order the behavior or conduct of those
responsible for forcing another into marriage to change or stop or
to impose requirements on them. It also provides recourse for
those already forced into marriage. Failure to comply could lead
to imprisonment.
In her speech to the Women's Issues Network White Ribbon
Conference Ms Prentice also talked about the Ministry of Justice
domestic violence policy for staff experiencing domestic abuse.
Ms Prentice outlined the support that staff in the Ministry of
Justice have access to Support from trained counselors can be
arranged, moves can be facilitated and financial support can be considered.
The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 gives the courts
a wide discretion to deal flexibly and sensitively with the
circumstances of each individual case. It employs civil remedies
that offer protection to victims without criminalizing members of
their family.
The first phase of implementation of the Act will enable people
to apply for an order at specified county courts, rather than just
the high courts Bridget Prentice said:
"I am pleased that the Forced Marriage Act is to be
implemented. The Act protects people from being denied their
fundamental right to choose the person they want to marry and
gives those in such a situation the power to move away."
"Victims of forced marriage are often unable to protect
themselves and the Act enables others to apply to court for
protection on the victim's behalf."
"We will ask the public how we can adapt our court
administration to meet the needs of those who use the Act"
The Ministry of Justice's Domestic Violence policy ensures
that staff have a resource they can turn to when they need it.
Bridget Prentice also said:
"Domestic violence deeply affects victims and transcends
gender, race, class, age and sexuality. It accounts for 25 per
cent of all violent crime and a third of all homicides.
"Sunday 25 November was white ribbon day. The ribbon is a
symbol of hope and is a personal pledge to challenge the
acceptability of domestic violence.
"Our policies reinforce that hope and also sends a clear
message to victims of domestic violence that the Ministry of
Justice is committed to providing support and will encourage
victims to come forward to ask for help and warn perpetrators that
we will not tolerate violence of any kind."
Notes to Editors
1. The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act can be viewed at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2007/20070020.htm
2. The joint FCO/Home Office Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) was
launched in January 2005 as the UK's "one stop
shop" for developing Government policy on forced marriage,
co-ordinating outreach projects and providing support and
information to those at risk. The Unit handles approximately
250-300 cases per year, 15% of which involve men.
3. Although the FMU sees cases from around the world-including
East Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe-the majority are
from South Asia. Approximately 65% of cases are in families of
Pakistani origin and 25% are in families of Bangladeshi origin.
Around a third of cases the FMU deals with are children, some as
young as 13. The Unit also assists reluctant sponsors-those forced
into marriage and subsequently forced to sponsor a visa
application-and has dealt with over 100 cases since May 2006.
4. The new Ministry of Justice domestic violence policy was
released on Monday 26 November. It is for MoJ staff from the
former DCA. MoJ staff from the Home Office and the Prison Service
are already covered by existing policies and have their own
dedicated supporting procedures.
5. The Ministry of Justice, the Home Office and the Crown
Prosecution Service National Steering Group oversee 64 specialist
domestic violence courts in England and Wales. The courts have led
to improvements in victim safety and satisfaction, reducing delays
and improving evidence gathering.
http://www.justice.gov.uk