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London has seen a huge rise in the number of men forcing into marriage. Calls an emails to the Forced Marriage Unit were up 65% the last two years, according to a new Government report released yesterday. The joint-initiative between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Home Office, received more than 220 emails and calls to its helpline about suspected forced marriages involving male victims, up from 134 in 2008. Most are young professionals and contact the unit during the summer - many of the cases this year have been linked to sexuality. Whilst women still make up the vast majority of calls (over 1,400 reports) men are finally starting to speak out and ask for help. Reasons may be forced into marriage for reasons relating to family commitments and expectations, securing visas or the desire to control behaviour and protect a family's reputation.
Jeremy Browne, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Consular Policy, said:
"Although this continues to be an issue affecting both men and women, people often don't realise that men can be victims of forced marriage too. Boys and men who are forced into marriage find it harder to ask for help than women, but we are urging males affected by forced marriage to speak out and seek the help that is available to them." Protection order Victims, or others acting on their behalf, can apply for a Forced Marriage Protection Order. People can be arrested if they do not comply with the orders. Since coming into force in November 2008, over 150 orders have been taken out. "Form of abuse" James Brokenshire, Home Office Minister for Crime Prevention, said: "Forced marriage is a form of domestic abuse and will not be tolerated. These figures are proof that both men and women are victims of forced marriage so it's vitally important that we encourage those who work with young people to contact the Forced Marriage Unit if they have any concerns, and that victims who have been affected come forward and get the help they need."
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