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Lost girls in 'forced marriages' | Lost girls in 'forced marriages' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
More than 30 girls are missing from schools in Bradford despite efforts to track them down, MPs have been told. | More than 30 girls are missing from schools in Bradford despite efforts to track them down, MPs have been told. |
Authorities suspect 33 children from the city have been "taken abroad to participate in forced marriages", Labour MP Keith Vaz said. | Authorities suspect 33 children from the city have been "taken abroad to participate in forced marriages", Labour MP Keith Vaz said. |
Children's minister Kevin Brennan told the Commons Home Affairs committee that the issue was a "serious concern". | Children's minister Kevin Brennan told the Commons Home Affairs committee that the issue was a "serious concern". |
The government had identified 14 other areas with suspected high rates of so-called "honour violence", he added. | The government had identified 14 other areas with suspected high rates of so-called "honour violence", he added. |
Mr Vaz, the committee's chairman, said that he was "shocked" by the figures. | Mr Vaz, the committee's chairman, said that he was "shocked" by the figures. |
Rescue operations | Rescue operations |
Mr Brennan told MPs that Bradford City Council had lost track of 205 youngsters aged under 16 from its school rolls in 2007. | Mr Brennan told MPs that Bradford City Council had lost track of 205 youngsters aged under 16 from its school rolls in 2007. |
Following inquiries, 172 were tracked down - but 33 were left unaccounted for. | |
"What we need to try to do is seek an explanation of what has happened," he said. | "What we need to try to do is seek an explanation of what has happened," he said. |
Asked whether the police were searching for them, he added: "They should be." | Asked whether the police were searching for them, he added: "They should be." |
The government investigates 300 forced marriages a year, including about 70 overseas rescue operations. | The government investigates 300 forced marriages a year, including about 70 overseas rescue operations. |
It has established a special Forced Marriages Unit which mounts clandestine rescue operations predominantly to help British women forced into relationships in Pakistan. | It has established a special Forced Marriages Unit which mounts clandestine rescue operations predominantly to help British women forced into relationships in Pakistan. |
Forced marriages are different to Asian traditions of arranged marriages which are freely-agreed matches, facilitated by families. | Forced marriages are different to Asian traditions of arranged marriages which are freely-agreed matches, facilitated by families. |