Panorama – Rescued from Forced Marriage

I saw this on BBC 1 the other night – Panorama follow the British High Commission in Pakistan. Its 30 minutes long.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b051cglx/panorama-rescued-from-a-forced-marriage

Leave comments if you feel strongly about this subject!

‘Indias Bride Trafficking fuelled by skewed Sex Ratios’

This article I saw on The Guardian. to view and read the whole thing follow this link: http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/dec/17/india-bride-trafficking-foeticide

‘In the north-west of India, the business in brides is booming. Skewed sex ratios in states including Haryana, where there are only 830 girls for every 1,000 boys (pdf) and young women being lured away to jobs in India’s booming cities, means men like Yadav are increasingly left with few options when it comes to finding a wife.’

Nearly 50 years after the introduction of ultrasound technology, which campaigners say has led to the sex-selective termination of up to 10 million healthy female foetuses, families in search of wives are increasingly turning to traffickers to counter their sons’ diminishing marriage prospects.’

‘The business of bride trafficking is proving so lucrative that local people are setting themselves up as dealers or brokers, sourcing women for families seeking partners for their sons.’

Girls decide: Tackling child marriage and early pregnancy in Bangladesh (DFID)

I found this on the DFID government website.

Its a dramatization of a true story.

There are also some key facts taken off this webpage:

• Worldwide, more than 60 million women aged 20 to 24 were married before they turned 18.
• In South Asia, over 48% of 15 to 24 year olds were married before they reached 18.
• In Africa the average figure is 42% (though in some countries in East and West Africa, the figure is as high as 60%). In Latin America and the Caribbean the figure is 29%.
• UK aid provides approximately 20% of IPPF’s unrestricted income.
• A person received a contraceptive service at an IPPF service delivery point 131 million times in 2009. One in every three IPPF clients is a young person.

To see the full webpage go to : https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/girls-decide-tackling-child-marriage-and-early-pregnancy-in-bangladesh

In the UK – Forced marriage law sends ‘powerful message’

Earlier this year, on the BBC news it was explained that –  ‘A new law in England and Wales making it a criminal offence to force people into marriage sends “a powerful message”.

The punishment for parents who force their child into marriage will be punished ‘by up to seven years in prison’.

Do you think that is the correct punishment?

Is 7 years enough? or is it too long?

To check out this article fully follow this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27830815

‘Forced Marriage Continues in Many Countries’

This video highlights the issue of not only Forced Marriage but young and underage Marriage as well. It also mentions that this issue is not only confined to undeveloped and developing nations but developed nations such as the UK.

‘Afghan women escape marriage through suicide’

I found this article while doing research, where this horrible headline caught my eye.

It states that ‘As many as 80 percent of marriages in Afghanistan take place without the consent of the bride, who is often a child. Many of them see killing themselves as the only way out.’
According to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, between 60 and 80 percent of all marriages in Afghanistan are forced.

‘According to Islamic law, a man and woman should agree on a marriage for it to be valid. However, tradition tends to take priority in Afghanistan. Parents often decide upon their daughters’ future without asking them for an opinion. Men, on the other hand, are generally able to reject their family’s choice of bride and can even choose their own bride sometimes.’ This here really shows how forced marriage in Afghanistan is part of their culture in many cases, but also it really shows the gender differences and the lack of rights for women. They seem to have no choice on deciding on their future however men do. Is that fair or right?

you can view the whole article here: http://www.dw.de/afghan-women-escape-marriage-through-suicide/a-16750044

 

Forced Marriage and Arranged Marriage, Whats the Difference?

Forced and Arranged marriages can get misinterpreted.

Where arranged marriage has the consent of all parties involved and is still a popular practice in many religions. Forced marriage is a very different matter either one or both parties do not have consent and they have no choice entering the marriage pressured upon them. In no particular religion is this advocated however certain cultural beliefs encourage and carry it out. A very important fact to point out is that men can be victims too. It is widely interpreted that only women suffer under forced marriage, this is not true and is hugely unreported on than women suffering.

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Do agree with the fact that men are and can be victims too? or do you have the opinion that women are the sufferers and the most vulnerable?