Amy Rowe and Samuel Isaac discuss forced marriage in The Times
Amy and Samuel’s article was published in The Times, 5 December 2024, and can be seen here.
Amy Rowe, Partner, and Samuel Isaac, Associate in our Family & Relationships department, discuss the troubling implications of a proposed Iraqi bill that would lower the legal marriage age for girls to nine.
They warn that such a move would be a serious setback for women’s rights and could lead to increased instances of forced marriage and exploitation. However, they stress that the issue is not confined to Iraq UK nationals and residents, particularly minors, remain at risk of being taken abroad and forced into marriage, despite recent legal reforms in England and Wales.
They highlight that while the legal age for marriage in England and Wales was raised to 18 in 2023, forced marriages still occur, often involving victims taken overseas. In 2023, the UK’s Forced Marriage Unit received 283 referrals. Tools such as Forced Marriage Protection Orders (FMPOs) are available to prevent or respond to these situations, offering measures like passport confiscation, travel bans, and orders to return individuals taken abroad. Yet, conviction rates remain low, with only 53% of prosecutions resulting in convictions in early 2024.
Amy and Samuel emphasise the need for greater public awareness and education around the distinction between arranged and forced marriages. Many victims may not realise they’ve been coerced or may fear reporting due to family pressure. While the UK cannot change foreign laws, they argue that more can be done domestically to protect vulnerable individuals and ensure everyone has the freedom to marry whom and when they choose.
Read the full article on The Times website [subscription required].
