At least 100 children aged 12 and under have been referred to the UK government’s forced marriage unit over the past five years, according to recent figures revealed through a Freedom of Information request. This includes 27 children aged five and under and 62 children aged ten and below. While not all referrals indicate that a forced marriage has taken place, the statistics have raised alarms about the prevalence of forced marriages involving very young children. Dame Jasvinder Sanghera, a campaigner who escaped an attempted forced marriage at age 14, expressed concern that many children could vanish from school registers or return from holidays already engaged or married. The Home Office has stated that forced marriage is not specific to any culture or religion, though Sanghera noted that concerns about cultural sensitivity can hinder effective reporting and safeguarding.
Why It Matters
The issue of forced marriage in the UK has been under scrutiny, particularly with the legal age for marriage raised from 16 to 18 in England and Wales in 2023. Data from the Home Office shows an increase in cases with no overseas element, indicating that forced marriage is a domestic issue as well. In 2025, 14% of cases reported had no international ties, a significant increase from previous years. The Department for Education has emphasized the importance of safeguarding children and has implemented new educational guidelines to help identify and address various forms of abuse, including forced marriage.
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