UN Researchers found that the resulting marriages can be arranged by family members, wedding agencies or brokers, often for financial or material gain. In some cases, brides are kidnapped.
Various coercive or fraudulent methods are used to obtain consent, including abduction, deception, abuse of vulnerability and the receiving of payments or gifts.
“Women and girls trapped in these forced unions face violence, abuse, restrictions on movement and isolation from their parents and friends”.
Henry’s Care Initiative Quotes
Abused and afraid
There are many factors that make women vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, including their age, status, and lack of education and employment opportunities.
Physical and sexual abuse is common and mainly perpetrated by the husband, but sometimes also by his relatives and friends and other third parties, including clients purchasing sexual services or abusive marriage brokers”, she said.
Forced marriage can be linked to all phases of human trafficking, starting with recruitment and transportation of the victim. As with other forms of trafficking, only a small proportion of cases reach the attention of the police, and there are very few convictions.
Let us all come together to end this inhuman act of trafficking girls and women for marriage and sex. We can do it through: community policing, having stricter laws against perpetrators, keeping our children safe among many more.
