www.bbc.co.uk Throughout history, arranged marriages have forged bonds, untied tribes and built kingdoms. Who knows if those marriages were happy? But since then the social order has moved on. Now, girls should be free to choose who they marry.
Balance in all things, I say, especially between men and women.
In England, even the sons of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana choose their partners with care. Just recently, I read of Prince Harry's choice of partner deciding against marriage.
Balance in all things, I say, especially between men and women.
In England, even the sons of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana choose their partners with care. Just recently, I read of Prince Harry's choice of partner deciding against marriage.
www.examiner.com In the UK, girls as young as five years old will be sent abroad during the summer holidays to marry older men. Many have complained afterward of being raped on their wedding nights and routinely beaten by their husbands. 700 calls a month come in to the charity Karma Nirvana from distressed girls.
But next month, after ten years of work, forced marriage will become illegal in England and Wales, with wrongdoers facing years behind bars if they try to arrange for an innocent youngster to marry against their will.
The Bill came after one former victim was brave enough to speak out. The girl was just 14 when her Indian parents told her she would be made to marry an older man.
But next month, after ten years of work, forced marriage will become illegal in England and Wales, with wrongdoers facing years behind bars if they try to arrange for an innocent youngster to marry against their will.
The Bill came after one former victim was brave enough to speak out. The girl was just 14 when her Indian parents told her she would be made to marry an older man.
www.theguardian.com Having watched her five older sisters go through the same fate, one of them eventually setting fire to herself, she refused. At the age of 16, her parents left her in a small room with the padlock on the outside until she eventually agreed.
However, she planned to escape. After some time, she was found, but refused to be married off, whereupon her parents disowned her.
Concerned that other girls might not be strong enough to withstand the pressure, she launched the charity Karma Nirvana from her front room in 1993, aiming to put an end to forced marriage and honor-based violence.
After campaigning and lobbying the Government to make it illegal, the woman, now 48, finally got her wish. Jasvinder Sanghera received a CBE in December for her efforts.
The UK Government deals with 8,000 cases a year and those are just the ones who fight their case. The fact that forced marriages are now illegal should put a stop to what was once thought of as a cultural issue. See karmanirvana.org.uk.
However, she planned to escape. After some time, she was found, but refused to be married off, whereupon her parents disowned her.
Concerned that other girls might not be strong enough to withstand the pressure, she launched the charity Karma Nirvana from her front room in 1993, aiming to put an end to forced marriage and honor-based violence.
After campaigning and lobbying the Government to make it illegal, the woman, now 48, finally got her wish. Jasvinder Sanghera received a CBE in December for her efforts.
The UK Government deals with 8,000 cases a year and those are just the ones who fight their case. The fact that forced marriages are now illegal should put a stop to what was once thought of as a cultural issue. See karmanirvana.org.uk.
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