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Forced marriage plea to schools Forced marriage plea to schools
(about 8 hours later)
New guidelines are being published urging schools to identify signs of forced marriages ahead of the holidays. New guidance is being published urging schools to identify signs of forced marriages ahead of the holidays.
The guidance comes as an official report raises questions about how schools and some councils have responded to calls for help. The guidance comes as an official report raises questions about how some schools and councils have failed to act on suspicions or evidence of abuse.
The report calls on schools to play a greater preventative role, saying some are clearly reluctant to get involved.The report calls on schools to play a greater preventative role, saying some are clearly reluctant to get involved.
The government's Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) says it has received 770 calls for help this year - up 16% on 2008.The government's Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) says it has received 770 calls for help this year - up 16% on 2008.
The unit, run jointly by the Home Office and Foreign Office, received 1,600 reports last year - and intervened in 420 actual cases.The unit, run jointly by the Home Office and Foreign Office, received 1,600 reports last year - and intervened in 420 actual cases.
The courts have also made 36 forced marriage prevention orders, a recently created power designed to prevent people being taken abroad against their will.The courts have also made 36 forced marriage prevention orders, a recently created power designed to prevent people being taken abroad against their will.
Overall, there are estimated to be at least 5,000 cases, but it is impossible to know for certain. Overall, there are estimated to be at least 5,000 cases of forced marriage, but it is impossible to know for certain.
FORCE MARRIAGE HELPLINE 770 calls Jan - June 09Up 16% on same period of 20081,600 calls last year FORCE MARRIAGE HELPLINE 770 calls Jan - June 09Up 16% on same period of 20081,600 calls last yearCourts can intervene to protect victimsSpecial British team launches rescues in south Asia
Some of these involved deploying specialist teams in south Asia to rescue young British women who had been coerced by their families into marriages they did not want to be part of. But experts say the coming month will be critical because there is growing evidence that abusive families use the school summer holidays to coerce daughters and sons to marry abroad.
But experts say that the coming month will be critical because there is growing evidence that families use the school summer holidays to force daughters and some sons to marry abroad.
The new guidance published by the FMU urges teachers to be aware of signs of a possible forced marriage because school and college is often the only place where the potential victim can speak freely.The new guidance published by the FMU urges teachers to be aware of signs of a possible forced marriage because school and college is often the only place where the potential victim can speak freely.
However, according to government research, also published on Thursday, some local bodies including schools are not doing enough to intervene. The document also provides guidance to doctors, police, social workers and other community workers.
All children have the right to grow up safe from harm Baroness Delyth MorganMinister for young children However, according to government research, also published on Thursday, some local bodies are not doing enough to intervene.
This is not something you must be culturally sensitive about - this is a child abuse issue Jasvinder SangheraCampaigner against forced marriages
The report for the Department for Children, Schools and Families details criticisms of some schools and education authorities, accusing them of being "non-responsive" and failing to intervene as they dismiss forced marriage as a "cultural issue" or fear a backlash from powerful figures in minority communities.The report for the Department for Children, Schools and Families details criticisms of some schools and education authorities, accusing them of being "non-responsive" and failing to intervene as they dismiss forced marriage as a "cultural issue" or fear a backlash from powerful figures in minority communities.
"In all areas we noted a variation among key partners in the importance they attached to responding to forced marriage," says the report."In all areas we noted a variation among key partners in the importance they attached to responding to forced marriage," says the report.
"One respondent talked about how it was precisely those cases of children [going missing from education] that showed the signs of forced marriage that were less likely to be followed up in schools as this was seen as an issue specific to the culture of the child.""One respondent talked about how it was precisely those cases of children [going missing from education] that showed the signs of forced marriage that were less likely to be followed up in schools as this was seen as an issue specific to the culture of the child."
Baroness Delyth Morgan, minister for young people, said: "All children have the right to grow up safe from harm. Act on suspicions
"As the end of the school year nears it's vital that we get the message out that forced marriage is totally unacceptable and where children are subjected to this practice, the impact on their education and their future is devastating." Jasvinder Sanghera of Karma Nirvana, a national campaign group against forced marriages, urged public sector workers, and particularly teachers, to act on suspicions.
Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said the new national guidance, which also cover the police and other agencies, said "These guidelines offer clear, step by step guidance to front line professionals about what to do when dealing with suspected cases of forced marriage. "This is not something you must be culturally sensitive about," she said. "This is a child abuse issue, and you must treat it in that way and follow your child protection procedures. Do not turn a blind eye".
"By working together we can ensure that all victims of forced marriage receive sympathetic, effective and joined-up support and also challenge the culture of acceptance." Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant told the BBC that professionals needed to have their "eyes wide open".
"There are key times of the year, particularly if an elder sibling has married very young or suddenly left school, if a youngster is self-harming or if they are constantly being accompanied by parents, even to a doctor's surgery," he told Radio 4's Today programme. "These may be clear signs that there is a problem."
"I should make it absolutely clear there is no culture and there is no religion in which forced marriage should be acceptable or indeed is acceptable," he added.
"I know there are maybe some people who think this is an issue about Islam - it's not. Islam does not recommend or accept forced marriage. Marriage in every religion has to be freely and openly consented to".
What do you make of these guidelines? Is this the right way to handle the issue? Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Tell us your thoughts by filling in the form below.What do you make of these guidelines? Is this the right way to handle the issue? Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Tell us your thoughts by filling in the form below.
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