Forced marriage has always been a crime in spirit | Sayeeda Warsi

David Cameron is right to criminalize forced marriages. This abominable inhuman acts robs people of their lives

The decision to criminalize forced marriage - the act of forcing someone to marry against their will - the government has made a bold statement:. This inhuman atrocity and tyranny is never acceptable

The decision could not come soon enough. Forced marriage unit government (UAF) has provided advice and support in nearly 1,500 cases last year, but the actual picture is supposed to be even worse. A 2009 study estimated that more than 8,000 women and men, girls and boys can get into the unions are not prepared each year, often torn from his life in Britain to live in a foreign country with a partner unknown.

Surprisingly, one-third of victims served by the FMU last year were children - school suddenly became husbands, whether here or abroad -. The youngest reported case is believed to have been only five years

must be clear. It's not like arranged marriages where both parties agree. In forced marriages, engagements to resist is to risk ostracism, violence and even murder.

At present, the law is not enough. Forced marriage protection orders were introduced in 2008, but the violation of an order is only a violation of civil law. The message it sends is dangerous: it is said that the UK compares this marriage only answer torts

David Cameron was right to say that violate these orders would be penalized. And he was right to consult on forced marriages a crime in itself. The survey, whose results are published today shows 80% of respondents - including police, victims groups, lawyers and charities - that the current measures are not used effectively. Most agreed that a new offense should be created.

• This is something I struggled with for many years. I met many victims fought where the victims when I was a lawyer. And, as I wrote here last December, I have always believed that the use of marriage as a weapon must be vilified and criminalized.

There are, of course, those who oppose the criminalization of forced marriage. The main concern is that the crime will be driven underground that victims are reluctant to penalize families.

skeptics say the blunt instrument of the law is not enough to solve a problem as complex and sensitive. They say that the law already protects people from forced marriages and to criminalize its components - such as kidnapping, assault and kidnapping. I understand their reservations, and even meetings were held with stakeholders to discuss with them.

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