Welsh Women’s Aid raise awareness of Forced Marriage Awareness Week
The 7th – 11th of July marks Forced Marriage Awareness Week and during this week Welsh Women’s Aid is raising awareness of forced marriage and the support for those affected.
Every year, thousands of women and girls are taken out of the UK to be forced into marriage against their will, and unfortunately the summer is a peak time for this to happen. At Welsh Women’s Aid, we believe that nobody has the right to force a woman or girl into something that they don’t want to do.
Eleri Butler, Chief Executive of Welsh Women’s Aid says, “These four days are about highlighting forced marriage in Wales, the UK and worldwide. In 2017 the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) gave advice or support related to possible forced marriage in 1,196 cases. However this is just in the United Kingdom, worldwide around 14 million girls are forced to marry early or against their will.”
This year the Welsh Government have launched the Don’t be a Bystander campaign, a campaign showing how important a positive intervention can be for someone experiencing violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence. The Welsh Government are encouraging everybody to act, however small or simple.
If you have concerns about a family member, a friend, a colleague, or anybody in regards to forced marriage, do not be a bystander please call the Live Fear Free Helpline on 0800 80 10 800. Alternatively, you can call ChildLine on 0800 1111, the Forced Marriage Unit on 020 7008 3100, and finally BAWSO on 0800 731 8140.