New guidance to help health professionals recognise the warning signs of forced marriage

The Home Office has today issued guidance for health professionals, designed to help them recognise victims and offer practical support. It has been released in response to findings that victims do not feel health professionals can help them.

At the same time, health workers say they would like to do more and campaigners point out a doctor’s appointment can be one of the few occasions a victim of forced marriage can talk in private. GPs, school nurses, midwives and A&E staff will be taught the warning signs of forced marriage and be trained to provide a supportive environment for victims to come forward.

The guidelines have been launched jointly with the Foreign Office and Department of Health.

Sandra Horley OBE, Chief Executive of domestic violence charity Refuge says:

"Refuge recognises the efforts of the Home Office, Department of Health and Foreign & Commonwealth Office in addressing forced marriage and welcomes these guidelines. An important achievement is the fact that the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill Proposes to make these guidelines statutory. Mandatory training and resources will help save lives by enabling health professionals to support those experiencing forced marriage and indeed, all forms of domestic violence

"The confidentiality of the patient-physician relationship is vital in allowing a safe space for disclosure. But with the right guidance, health professionals can advise women of their options or put them in touch with organisations like Refuge. By doing this, health professionals can also empower women to contact the police on their own. They can and should at the very least provide information and advice in their waiting rooms."

For more information visit the Forced Marriage Unit