UK launches forced marriage helpline

LONDON—A new UK national helpline for victims of forced marriage and honour-based violence, part-funded by the Forced Marriage Unit, was launched Friday by Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker. The ‘Honour Network’, run by a charity organisation is a dedicated forced marriage and honour-based violence helpline, staffed by survivors offering emotional and practical support. The joint Foreign and Commonwealth/Home Office Forced Marriage Unit was set up in 2005 and handles 5000 enquiries and up to 400 cases per year. The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act will be implemented in the autumn this year. Courts will be able to make orders to prevent forced marriages and protect victims. Guidelines produced by the Forced Marriage Unit in cooperation with other Government departments, for groups working with forced marriage victims, including the police, social services, health and education professionals will be placed on a statutory footing. Speaking at the launch, Coaker said, “This helpline run by survivors, forsurvivors, is a big step in the fight to raise awareness of the issues of forced marriage and honour-based violence and is crucial in giving victims across the country the confidence to come forward

—Online