96.6 per cent overseas related marriages take place to attain foreign nationality

[Naveed Yaseen]

Myra Imran
A survey conducted on the issue of forced marriages among male dual nationals, reveal that only 3.4 per cent children are consulted before marriage whereas 96.6 per cent marriages take place mainly to attain foreign nationality or helping hand abroad.

The findings make part of the research report of baseline survey on the issue of forced marriages launched by SACH on Friday. The survey was conducted in collaboration with British High Commission.

The target area for the survey were Mirpur, Bhimber and Kotli where the concentration of dual nationals is considerably high and incidents of forced marriages are largely reported. The survey was conducted in order to plan an implementation strategy for intervention, prevention and awareness raising campaigns in the target areas.

Among 870 individuals interviewed during the survey, 61.9 per cent respondents were British nationals and 38.08 per cent were Pakistani nationals who visited UK many times. The study also revealed that only 7.9 per cent among dual nationals had an education up to post-gradation level and 3.6 per cent got UK based education.

The survey shows that majority of such marriages take place within family or ‘baradari’ with only 11 per cent marriages taking place outside the family. Only 19.9 per cent respondents strongly agreed that families and parents have the right to decide.

Majority of respondents (74.4 per cent) termed forced marriages against Islamic teachings whereas 54.1 strongly agreed to the statement that both girls and boys should be given chance to freely marry. Around 51.6 per cent believed that forced marriages may lead to torture and violence in the society and 52.8 per cent said that mostly women are forced-marriage victims as they cannot dare to oppose and they had no other option but to surrender.

Answering to a question about the consequences of forced marriages, 45.3 per cent said that it becomes the ground of divorce, 18.6 per cent said that it results in domestic violence, where as 2.3 per cent mentioned suicide cases as well.

Talking about the psychological effects of forced marriage on victims, 14.4 per cent respondents said that youth during the forced marriage experience fits and depression, whereas 7.4 per cent told cases of physical aggression.

In 50 per cent cases, the society particularly community was found to be reacting as indifferent to the happenings of forced marriages as they termed it a private matter and in 18.2 per cent cases, the community and society were discouraging.

The result of the study showed that the prevalent attitudes of marriages are not direct result of religious bigotries only but have a strong economic and cultural dimension. The study recommends that such marriages should be recognised as an abuse, which typically involves criminal offences. It says that community, media and opinion leaders can play very important role in curtailing the menace.

In her welcome note at the launching ceremony, Executive Director SACH Khalida Saleemi said that during past nine years, the issue of forces marriages had been extensively highlighted and debated among communities of dual nationals. “The key to preventing forced marriage is educating everyone involved in the practice,” she said adding that changing of values and traditions take time.

Giving orientation about Forced Marriage Unit London, the head of Consular Section British High Commission Albert David said that Forced Marriage Unit has its offices in all the embassies of UK all over the world, providing different facilities and assistance to potential victims.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=194281