Schools urged to take action against forced marriages
Government releases new guidelines calling on schools to play an active role in identifying signs of forced marriages
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Thursday, 02, Jul 2009 09:08
The government has released new guidelines calling on schools to start playing an active role in identifying the signs of forced marriages.
The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) has announced it has received 770 calls for help so far this year, a 16 per cent increase on the same period in 2008.
In total last year, the government-run unit received 1,600 reports.
While more people now appear willing to come forward to discuss their situation, the FMU has warned the true scale of the problem remains unclear.
With the summer holidays approaching, the unit has said it expects this to be the busiest time of year as children leave school for extended breaks and have therefore called on schools to take more action in attempting to identify the signs of forced marriage.
Latest figures suggest 33 per cent of all forced unions are in children under the age of 18 and the government has called for greater school awareness.
Delyth Morgan, minister for young people, said: "As the end of the school year nears it is 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."
Speaking to the Today programme, foreign office minister Chris Bryant called on teachers to look out for potential tell-tale signs.
"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 added.
"These may be clear signs that there is a problem."