Abstract
This chapter discusses the concept of forced marriage and the importance of consent in marriage. It discusses the international legal interventions put in place to address forced marriage. It then focuses on the UK and the specific legislation enacted in the UK to respond to forced marriage. Evidence shows that the uptake of these measures is patchy and that legal interventions on their own are not sufficient. In the global south, early marriage is most prevalent in contexts of poverty and substantially reduces economic opportunities; thus, poverty is reinforced and deepens unequal gender relations. There are also adverse health outcomes for victims including unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and acquisition of HIV (UNFPA, Girlhood, not motherhood: preventing adolescent pregnancy, UNFPA, New York, 2015). Recommendations include working towards the eradication of poverty and unequal gender relations as key to ending forced marriage. Prevention initiatives need to be undertaken at multiple levels: both at state-level and community levels to ensure that the messages relating to the harms of early and forced marriage are clearly conveyed in accessible and meaningful ways, taking account of local contexts.
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Chantler, K. (2023). Forced Marriage. In: Ali, P., Rogers, M.M. (eds) Gender-Based Violence: A Comprehensive Guide. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05640-6_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05640-6_5
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