16 June 2014 - Forced marriage outlawed in England
Activer le mode zen
Forced marriage outlawed as ministers step up efforts to curb practice
Press Association (The Guardian)
Forced marriage is "a tragedy for each and every victim", home secretary Theresa May said as a new law outlawing the practice came into effect.
From Monday forcing someone into marriage in England and Wales will carry a maximum seven-year jail sentence under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
The government hopes the law change, which also criminalises forcing a British national into marriage outside the UK, will protect thousands of potential victims.
May said she was proud of the UK's role as a world leader in combating the crime, saying: "Forced marriage is a tragedy for each and every victim, and its very nature means that many cases go unreported.
"I am proud to say that the UK is already a world leader in the fight to stamp out this harmful practice with the government's Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) working hard to tackle this terrible practice in the UK and overseas. Today's criminalisation is a further move by this government to ensure victims are protected by the law and that they have the confidence, safety and the freedom to choose.
Read on...
______________________________
Reactions
Staff (BBC News)
Campaigners have welcomed a law coming into effect in England and Wales making it a criminal offence to force people into marriage as "a huge step forward".
Since 2008, courts have been able to issue civil orders to prevent victims being forced into marriage.
However, the new law makes forced marriage a criminal offence for the first time - punishable by up to seven years in prison.
Ministers say it will protect thousands of potential victims each year.
It will apply to people forced into marriage in England and Wales, as well as UK nationals who are at risk of being forced into marriage abroad.
Read on...
____________________________
Doubts
David Barrett (The Telegraph)
New laws coming into force which criminalise forced marriage could deter victims from coming forward because they do not want to see parents and family members jailed, campaigners have warned.
The Home Office’s legislation makes compelling someone into marriage against their will a specific criminal offence for the first time, carrying up to seven years’ imprisonment.
It also makes it possible to prosecute perpetrators from other countries where a British national is being forced to wed.
The law will cover physical, psychological, emotional, financial and sexual abuse in relation to unwanted marriage, and is designed to help male and female victims alike.
Read on...
______________________________
Scotland already there
Shabnam Mahmood (BBC News)
There have been no prosecutions over forced marriage in Scotland since a law was passed three years ago, the BBC has learned.
Forced Marriage Protection Orders can be issued to prevent people being married against their will.
Ten orders have been issued since 2011. Those who breach them face up to two years in prison.
Only one allegation of a breach of an order has been reported to the procurator fiscal.
However, prosecutors said they were not able to take proceedings.
Now moves are being made to toughen up legislation and increase jail terms.
Read on...
Archives
Accédez aux archives de la revue
La Clé anglaise
Accédez à notre portail de ressources
[page;/html/cle/facebook/FacebookCode11.html]
Pour citer cette ressource :
"16 June 2014 - Forced marriage outlawed in England", La Clé des Langues [en ligne], Lyon, ENS de LYON/DGESCO (ISSN 2107-7029), juin 2014. Consulté le 18/04/2024. URL: https://cle.ens-lyon.fr/anglais/key-story/archives-revue-de-presse-2014/16-june-2014-forced-marriage-outlawed-in-england