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Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat), on Thursday, 25 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 25 members in total.

FORCED MARRIAGES

That this House acknowledges the excellent work done by the Forced Marriage Unit, the police and local authorities across the country to combat forced marriage and to protect victims of honour-based violence; recognises and welcomes the legal precedent set by Article 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights, yet regretfully notes the complete lack of prosecutions of perpetrators under this Act; further recognises that forced marriage is present across many faiths and cultures and is a growing issue in the United Kingdom; finds it disgraceful that there is no specific criminal offence in England and Wales of forcing someone to marry; and urges the Government to introduce legislation that will criminalise the act of forcing a British citizen into a marriage against their will or without their explicit and freely-given consent.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received an amendment.

FORCED MARRIAGES (1188A1)
The Early day motion has received an amendment sponsored by Ann Cryer (primary, Labour) and tabled on Sunday, 28 March 2010. It has been signed by 3 members in total.
leave out from `Kingdom' to end and add `recognises that the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 has only been in operation for 18 months, with already 117 forced marriage orders having been served, thus saving 117 women from the severe trauma, humiliation and rape involved in this inhuman activity; also recognises that many victims would be unwilling to report the offence if it were regarded as a criminal act to be dealt with through the criminal justice system; but believes however that should the number of forced marriages continue to increase the Government should in 18 months time consider the need for a specific criminal offence.

Secondary information

Type
Early day motion
Reference
1188 
1188A1 
Session
2009-10
Other sponsors
Peter Bottomley
Bob Spink
Lynne Jones
Sandra Gidley
Nick Harvey
Subjects
Marriage
Link
View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk