An effort to help out forced marriage victims
July 28, 2008
British government in its effort to prevent forced marriages has raised the minimum age limit from 18 to 21 at which a married person can apply to join a spouse in Britain. Statistics revealed that 30 per cent of the cases dealt with by the government’s Forced Marriage Unit involved victims aged between 18 and 21. Many of them happened to be women from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
According to the Home Secretary, forced marriage leads to victims suffering years of physical and mental abuse and – in extreme cases unlawful imprisonment and rape. This is why we are raising the age limit for visas, checking anyone entering into a marriage does so of their own free will, and demanding that those coming to UK learn English.”
The minister added “Any British citizen applying to ` sponsor` someone to come to the UK as their spouse will have to declare their intentions before they leave the country and marry abroad.” In the UK, every year, almost 3000 complaints are brought to the notice of the government. The new amended law is meant to minimise the sufferings of brides, mostly South Asians.
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