WOMEN AND FORCED MARRIAGE IN SCOTLAND

One of the important outcomes of this research is that it highlights the difference in
approach between the authorities and other mainstream organizations, and the way in which
BME women’s organizations work in Scotland. Whereas mainstream organizations that have
the awareness and the power to intervene would directly employ the ‘one chance rule’ with an
emphasis on regulation and exit, specialist women’s organizations employ work methods much
more geared towards the dialogue approach. When asked ‘why do you think BME women
would approach your organization rather than the authorities regarding forced marriage’, a very
interesting array of responses was generated:
‘We look at [Forced Marriage] as a marriage where duress of where the road that
leads to the marriage where force or physical violence was used…what we say is that to be
able to assist someone who’s experiencing [forced marriage] we can’t define it for them. The
victim, that’s the word we use, is the one who has to define what they’re experiencing as forced
marriage’. (Mridul Wadhwa, Shakti Women’s Aid)
‘When women come to us they come for many different reasons. We don’t tell women
‘you’re being forced into a marriage’, it’s not like that…’ (Elaine McLaughlin, Hemat Gryffe)
‘Every case is different. Some will not recognize that they’re being forced into a
marriage…and that’s where we come in, we let them know that they have options, that they will
be better off emotionally, and the children will be better off too when there’s no constant
abuse…it’s intensive support. It’s really intensive support that they will not receive outwith this
organization. It’s not just the language barrier, it’s also the cultural know-how. We understand
what they’re going through, and any other organization won’t be able to provide that kind of
intensive support to them. We don’t leave them alone. They won’t have to feel isolated, they
have support, they can turn to someone…’ (Rajni Pandher, Hemat Gryffe)
‘We have to go with what the woman wants. It’s a very individual case by case
scenario…’ (Ghizala Avan, Amina MWRC, Glasgow)
‘We wouldn’t try to push any sort of legal action on somebody. We would let them
know that this is a possibility but they need to think and make up their own minds…unless
there’s children involved obviously in which case it’s a whole different ball game…’(Susan
A’Brook, Dundee International Women’s Centre)
The response from BME women’s organizations overwhelmingly emphasizes that
they have in-depth awareness of cultural issues and the legal context; however, before
intervening, they take time to establish a trusting working relationship with the women and to
educate, advise, consult and support them throughout the decision-making process. This works
on many levels:
to break down the language barrier, as most Scottish BME women’s organizations are
overwhelmingly staffed by BME women themselves who speak a multitude of
languages (for example, Saheliya staff alone can provide 34 different languages);
42