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The current affairs series combining original insights into major news stories with topical investigations

The Report: Forced Marriage

Forced Marriage

22/09/2011

BBC Radio 4 - The Report, Forced Marriage

The Forced Marriage Unit says 350 young people could be missing as the school year starts.

The Forced Marriage Unit says 350 young people could be missing as the new academic year starts. Angus Crawford asks whether schools are doing enough to help vulnerable children.

This summer as many as 350 people may have been sent abroad and forced to marry against their will. Figures from the Forced Marriage Unit suggest 4 out of 10 of those affected are schoolchildren, so as the new academic year begins there will be empty seats in classrooms across the UK. In the last quarter, the number of protection orders issued by the courts identifying those at risk of being married against their will has doubled, year on year.

In April the Prime Minister said he was determined to stamp out forced marriage, and had no time for talk of cultural sensitivies. But three years after the Forced Marriage Unit was set up in England and Wales, and guidance was issue to all professionals working with children there's evidence that the legislation is not working as effectively as it should. 

Schools are on the frontline of efforts to try and prevent forced marriage, but the Report has learned that even in areas where there's are communities of South Asian origin, some schools are unaware there's a problem, don't raise the issue with pupils, or even flout the guidelines by immediately contacting parents. 

Angus Crawford asks whether the government is doing enough to help vulnerable young people.

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