HIDDEN TABOO OF MALE VICTIMS OF FORCED MARRIAGE REVEALED

By Adrian Ashby and The Editor

In new guidance produced by the UK Department of Children Schools and Families on the prevalence of forced marriage within Britain's Asian community has revealed that 20% of victims are male.

The figures (see page 26 of the guidance) show that during 2008 there were 1,325 known cases out of 7,750.

In many ways, this is a similar position to the one that male victims of domestic violence find themselves in. It is under-reported and nearly all of the information provided is aimed at female victims.The stereotype is that only females can be victims and men cannot be.

 Though the Forced Marriage Unit and the excellent Karma Nirvana charity help men, it is clear from the figures that nothing much is being done on the ground in local councils to help. 

This can be seen by the sample of four council's involved in the research which shows that a mere 4% of victims they report are male but the Forced Marriage Unit reported 14% and Karma Nirvana reported 43% (the guidance has produced an estimate of 20% taking into account these statistics). It shows that nationally based support systems show a higher prevalence than those on the ground, which means local council's once again are ignoring male victims in their community and are in breach of the Gender Equality Duty.

Almost a re- run of the process by which Erin Pizzey’s pioneering work setting up refuges  was subverted by an ideology which refuses to recognise the need for support for a substantial number of men. Once again a pioneering woman, Jasvindher Sanghera of Karma Nirvana, responding to real human problems, shows up the prejudice of those who should be supporting people in need in their communities.

Thee one difference though is that whereas in the case of male victims of domestic violence, the perpetrators are nearly always female, in forced marriages, because of the patriarchal nature of Asian communities, it is likely that the men being forced into marriage are being forced by other men (male family members) within their community.

 

So the usual stereotype that only women can be victims has been proved here, as in the case of domestic violence, to be wrong. When will this Government stop putting domestic violence and now forced marriages under the remit of Stopping Violence against Women and Children and instead place it under the remit of Stopping Violence Against Everyone.

 

Comments

[John Kimble]

I'm not sure you're right to blame men so much for such crimes. Plenty of forced marriages involve a wide range of people. I've read of countless cases involving female victims where it was their mother who was ultimately responsible for their suffering.

I suppose you're talking about male victims and perhaps they do suffer at the hands of fellow men, but there's no doubt the situation is complex and often it can be several members of the family working together and forcing the person into marriage against their will.

Any, an otherwise brilliant article as usual.

[Steve S]

"20% of victims are male"...That in itself is worthy of being News at Ten's leading story. Though I'm sure our 'news' programs will overlook it.