Guidance

What is forced marriage?

A forced marriage is where one or both people do not or cannot consent to the marriage, and pressure or abuse is used to force them into marriage.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Mark Simmonds
• Published: 31 January 2013
• Last updated: 27 March 2023 — See all updates

Documents

What is forced marriage? (accessible version)

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What is forced marriage?

PDF, 3.35 MB, 20 pages

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What is forced marriage? (easy read)

PDF, 992 KB, 11 pages

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What is forced marriage? (British Sign Language version)

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Details

Forced marriage is illegal in the UK. It is a form of domestic abuse and a serious abuse of human rights.

For a marriage to be consensual, it must be entered into freely by both people getting married. You should feel you have a choice. Legally, people with certain learning disabilities or severe mental health conditions are not able to consent to marriage, even if they feel the marriage is what they want.

If you are in immediate danger call the police on 999. If you or someone you know is being forced into marriage either in the UK or abroad, you can contact the Forced Marriage Unit.

Published 31 January 2013
Last updated 27 March 2023 + show all updates

1. 27 March 2023

   Added easy read (English) and British Sign Language versions of the document. Updated translations to match the English version.

2. 27 February 2023

   Updated the guidance.

3. 23 November 2021

   Added HTML accessible versions of guidance in translated languages.

4. 10 August 2021

   Added HTML accessible version. Added translated documents.

5. 20 April 2020

   Added a print ready version of "What is a forced marriage?".

6. 17 April 2020

   Updated with new What is a forced marriage? leaflet

7. 31 January 2013

   First published.