A report published by the Home Affairs Committee has called for the Government to criminalise forced marriages to send a strong message that forced marriages will not be tolerated.
The report notes that there are still thousands of young people in the UK affected by forced marriage, and expresses concerns about the level of support available to them. The Committee fears that the situation will be made worse when spending cuts lead to the reduction or closure of specialist support services.
The Chairman of the Committee, the Rt. Hon Keith Vaz, said in the report publication announcement:
"Forced Marriage is a serious issue that affects some of the most vulnerable individuals in the UK. I am very disappointed that progress on protection and awareness remains slow. I am also concerned that a loss of specialist support services due to spending cuts will stunt further progress.
“We believe that the best way to deter people from forcing individuals into marriage is through criminalising forced marriage. Taking this bold step alongside providing a range of services supporting victims of violence and raising awareness in schools must be a priority for the Government. There should be zero tolerance of this harmful activity that ruins the lives of so many."