FORCED MARRIAGE / HONOUR BASED ABUSE
If you or the person you are concerned about is in immediate danger, call the Police on 999
EMERGENCY SMS SERVICE FOR DEAF, HARD OF HEARING AND SPEECH IMPAIRED PEOPLE
In an emergency you can use your phone to contact the emergency services by texting 999.
You MUST register your mobile phone number before using this service. Just send the word ‘Register’ in a text message to the number 999 and follow the simple instructions you receive back.
FORCED MARRIAGE
Everyone in Britain, whatever their religion or belief, has the right to choose whether to get married and who they want to marry. But in some cases people are forced into marriage because:
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It is to someone they don’t like or have never even met
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They are too young to get married (sometimes as young as 12 or 13) or
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Don’t feel ready to marry at all.
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They do not have capacity to consent due to a physical and/or learning disability
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They are lesbian or gay and do not want to marry someone of the opposite sex.
Forced marriage is distinct from an arranged marriage because in arranged marriages, although families may take a leading role in choosing the partners, the choice of whether or not to consent to the marriage remains with the potential spouses. Forced marriage affects people from many communities and cultures - for example, people from black and minority ethnic communities; refugees and asylum seekers; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual people; and disabled people.
Practical help and advice for those who are:
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Being forced to marry in the UK
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Going abroad for a Forced Marriage
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In a Forced Marriage
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Or concerned about somebody in a Forced Marriage or at risk of being Forced to Marry
Call the Forced Marriage Unit on 020 7008 0151 (if dialling from overseas +44 (0)20 7008 0151). They are open 9am- 5pm Monday to Friday; outside of these times call the Foreign Office Response Centre on 020 7008 1500
HONOUR BASED ABUSE
The concept of ‘honour’ is for some communities extremely important. To compromise a family’s ‘honour’ is to bring shame and this can have severe consequences. Individuals are expected to behave in a way that protects perceived cultural and religious belief s and/or honour. When behaviour is considered to breach this expectation, it is thought to bring shame on the family and/or community. The punishment for bringing dishonour can be emotional abuse, physical abuse, family disownment and in some cases even murder.
In most honour-based abuse cases there are multiple perpetrators from the immediate family, sometimes the extended family and occasionally the community at large. Mothers, sisters, aunties and even grandmothers have been known to be involved in the conspiring of honour crimes.
Honour based abuse will often go hand in hand with forced marriages, although this is not always the case.
There are a range of specialist services that can you contact for advice and information of Forced Marriage and Honour Based Abuse, you'll find these below.
USEFUL LINKS & CONTACTS
DUDLEY SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT (SPOC): CALL 01384 455411
The SPOC is a single point of contact for Dudley victims of domestic and sexual violence and abuse, including Forced Marriage and ‘Honour’ Based Abuse
The number gives those who need help a direct line to a range of support services offered by specialist providers including refuge accommodation or additional home security.
The number is also be open to victim's families and professionals and helps people get to the right service as easily as possible as and when support is needed.
The single point of access works in line with Safelives Standards and West Midlands Domestic Violence and Abuse Standards
ASK MARC
Ask Marc offers men living In the Black Country specialist support around rape and sexual violence, childhood sexual abuse, grooming and exploitation, domestic abuse, stalking, forced marriage and so-called “honour”-based violence. Ask Marc sends out a clear message of hope telling victims you don’t have to deal with it alone: someone is here to listen: www.askmarc.org.uk
WEST MIDLANDS FORCED MARRIAGE AND HONOUR ABUSE HELPLINE -24 HOUR FREE HELPLINE
Offering confidential, empathetic and non-judgmental emotional and practical support, over the phone, to victims and survivors aged from 13 years living in the West Midlands. The helpline is open 24 hours day or night, to offer support and answer any questions, discuss options, and support with access to immediate emergency refuge 0800 953 9777
DIRECTORY OF SERVICES RELATING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE
This document provides details of specialist services for domestic abuse in Dudley borough.
It can be used if you know what type of support you or another individual require, however, we recommend that you call the SPOC (above) to ensure that you receive the most appropriate specialist service.
BLACK COUNTRY WOMENS AID – a local specialist organisation who offer confidential advice, information and support. https://blackcountrywomensaid.co.uk/services/forced-marriage-honour-based-violence/
WEST MIDLANDS POLICE OPTIONS
Find advice & support for any situation you might be facing, or simply get things sorted
https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/your-options/forced-marriage
https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/your-options/honour-based-abuse
KARMA NIRVANA
Karma Nirvana is a British charity supporting victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage. Honour crimes are not determined by age, faith, gender or sexuality, they support and work with all victims. https://www.karmanirvana.org.uk/
MUSLIM WOMEN'S NETWORK
Muslim Women's Network UK (MWNUK) is the only national Muslim women's organisation in Britain. They are a small national charity and work to improve the social justice and equality for Muslim women and girls http://www.mwnuk.co.uk
IKWRO
IKWRO helps Middle Eastern and Afghan women and girls who are living in the UK, providing confidential advice on issues including domestic violence, “Honour” Based Violence, Forced Marriage, Child Marriage, Female Genital Mutilation, separation and divorce, child custody, housing and benefits http://ikwro.org.uk/need-help-now/
OUR GIRL
Forced marriage transcends more than one culture and is prevalent all over the world including the UK visit. Our Girl is a national forced marriage prevention and awareness campaign http://ourgirl.co.uk
CHILDLINE
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/crime-law/forced-marriage/
KOOTH
Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people https://kooth.com/
http://www.safeguardingchildrenea.co.uk/resources/awareness-of-forced-marriage-register-for-training/
REGIONAL PROCEDURES
West Midlands Safeguarding Children Procedures can be found at:
http://westmidlands.procedures.org.uk/pkqqo/regional-safeguarding-guidance/honour-based-violence
http://westmidlands.procedures.org.uk/pkplo/regional-safeguarding-guidance/forced-marriage
West Midlands Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures can be found at:
NATIONAL GUIDANCE
https://www.gov.uk/stop-forced-marriage
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/h_to_k/honour_based_violence_and_forced_marriage/
https://www.nasuwt.org.uk/advice/in-the-classroom/children-and-young-people/forced-marriage.html
NATIONAL FGM CENTRE - GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES AND CHARTER
This guidance outlines what schools and colleges should consider and the action they should take when concerns are raised regarding a range of issues, including harmful practices such as Forced Marriage and Honour Based Abuse:
http://nationalfgmcentre.org.uk/harmful-practices/mps-guidance-for-schools-and-colleges/
DOCUMENTS & RESOURCES
WEST MIDLANDS POLICE PARTNERSHIP INFORMATION REPORT
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
For educational resources and session plans please visit:
E'LEARNING