Understanding preventive and protective responses to forced marriage: Forced marriage Protection Orders in England and Wales

 

Injunctive orders for forced marriage were introduced in England and Wales in 2007, and we have observed increasing use of these Forced Marriage Protection Orders (FMPOs) over the past decade. However, we know little about the day-to-day workings or outcomes of these measures. On 16th May in the House of Commons, Committee Room 16, Professor Sundari Anitha, University of Lincoln and Professor Aisha K. Gill, University of Bristol will share some of our key findings based on analysis of data from life history interviews with 11 forced marriage victims/survivors, semi-structured interviews with 42 practitioners, 70 police case files and 37 court judgements on cases of forced marriage where protections orders were sought and granted. We draw upon this data to explore the contexts within which FMPOs were sought and granted, the extent to which they offered protection from (a threat of) forced marriage and the outcomes of these injunctions for victims/survivors. The research enables us to reflect on the nature of the coercive contexts that constrain those who experience forced marriage and the possibilities offered by civil remedies to protect victims/survivors and enhance their opportunities to take action when under threat.

Speakers:

1. Naz Shah, Labour MP for Bradford West

2. Professor Sundari Anitha, University of Lincoln

3. Professor Aisha K. Gill, University of Bristol

4. Shaminder Ubhi, Ashiana Project

5. Helen Lenihan, West Midlands Police

Chaired by Her Honour Judge Khatun Sapnara

The project has been funded by the Nuffield Foundation, but the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily the Foundation [grant number JUS/43810]. Visit www.nuffieldfoundation.org