In Britain, forced marriages can now be stopped
A British law that allows courts to prevent forced marriages took effect Tuesday.
In the first nine months of 2008, the Forced Marriage Unit, part of Britain’s Foreign Office, handled more than 1,300 cases in which there were concerns that someone was to be forced into marriage, or already had been.
Nearly 85% of the cases had female victims, and the majority involved families of Pakistani, Indian or Bangladeshi descent, the unit said. About half involved minors.
The Forced Marriage Act gives courts the power to issue protection orders that can stop intimidation or violence, prevent someone from having to go abroad, and compel someone to reveal the whereabouts of a person believed at risk.
The act allows the victim, a friend, or an agency -- such as police, social services or shelter organizers -- to apply for a protection order. Anyone who violates such an order can be jailed for two years.
It is not a crime in Britain to force someone into marriage. But the practice often includes offenses such as abuse, assault, rape and kidnapping.
Women who had been forced into marriage -- or who had escaped a forced marriage -- were consulted on the law.
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