What's a forced marriage?
In a forced marriage you are coerced into marrying someone against your will. You may be physically threatened or emotionally blackmailed to do so.
It's an abuse of human rights and can't be justified on any religious or cultural basis.
You might be put under both physical pressure (when someone threatens to or actually does hurt you), or emotional pressure (for example, when someone makes you feel like you’re bringing shame on your family) to get married.
In some cases people may be taken abroad without knowing that they are to be married. When they arrive in the country their passports may be taken by their family to try and stop them from returning home.
Forced marriage is an abuse of human rights and a form of domestic violence and child abuse.
It’s not the same as an arranged marriage where you have a choice as to whether to accept the arrangement or not. The tradition of arranged marriages has operated successfully within many communities and countries for a very long time.
If you're worried you might be forced into marriage during a family visit overseas, call the Government's Forced Marriage Unit before you go.
The Forced Marriage Unit can be contacted on 020 7008 0151.
What is 'honour' based violence?
'Honour' based violence is defined as a threat to someone’s wellbeing because they haven't, according to family and local community members, conformed to religious or cultural expectations.
Examples could include individuals being forced to marry, kidnapped, being physically or mentally abused and in the worst case scenario being murdered.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary's confidential Choice helpline can be contacted on 0800 5 999 818.