Jun. 19 2008
Source Page: Analysis of marriage visa consultation responses. 72 p.Found: Analysis of marriage visa consultation responses. 72 p.
Apr. 01 2008
Source Page: Tackling Violence Against Women: A cross-government narrative. 44 p.Found: civil protection for people threatened with forced marriage.
Asked by: Lord Singh of Wimbledon (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the sanctioning of Mian Abdul Haq as a human rights violator on 9 December 2022, what assessment they have made of whether that sanctioning has been successful in preventing the forced conversion and abduction of women and girls from minority communities, and what further representations they have made to the government of Pakistan in this regard.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government strongly condemns the forced marriage and forced conversion of women and girls in Pakistan. Designating Mian Abdul Haq sent a clear message to those responsible that the UK considers this behaviour unacceptable. We regularly raise our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), women and girls' rights and gender equality at a senior level with the Government of Pakistan. Through our Aawaz programme, we continue to tackle issues of gender-based violence and work directly with communities to raise their awareness of the harms of early and forced marriages.
Mentions:
1: Lord Alton of Liverpool (XB - Life peer) They describe women and girls being sold into marriage or prostitution.We heard of enslaved children - Speech Link
2: Lord Bishop of Guildford (Bshp - Bishops) Complaints about abduction, rape, forced conversion and forced marriage are frequently given short shrift - Speech Link
3: Lord Purvis of Tweed (LD - Life peer) I would be grateful if the Minister could confirm that child labour, child and forced marriage, gender-based - Speech Link
4: Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab - Life peer) conversion and forced marriage, and, as the noble Lord, Lord Alton, highlighted, violence and attacks - Speech Link
Written Evidence Jun. 29 2023
Inquiry: So-called honour-based abuseFound: HBA0043 - So-called honour-based abuse National Commission on Forced Marriage Written Evidence
Mar. 09 2009
Source Page: Together we can end violence against women and girls : a consultation paper. 48 p.Found: We have strengthened the legislation on forced marriage, and our new Forced Marriage Unit helped over
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking with international partners to address the incidence of abduction, forced conversion, and forced marriage of young girls and women from religious minorities in Pakistan.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to urge the government of Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all people in Pakistan, particularly marginalised groups including women, minorities and children, as laid down in the Constitution of Pakistan and in accordance with international standards. Protecting the rights of women and girls is central to the UK Government's human rights engagement in Pakistan. UK programme funds are helping to address gender-based violence by raising awareness of early and forced marriages, tackling online hate speech, and making digital spaces safer for women. The British High Commission in Islamabad will continue to support civil society and NGOs in lobbying the Government of Pakistan to honour its international commitments.
Jun. 18 2024
Source Page: UN Human Rights Council 56: Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on AfghanistanFound: United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan have also reported a sharp rise in child, early and forced
May. 12 2023
Source Page: Forced marriage resource pack: BSL resourcesFound: Forced marriage resource pack: BSL resources
Mentions:
1: Kate Osborne (Lab - Jarrow) To go from campaigning against section 28, to stop LGBTQIA+ people being forced to hide, to holding a - Speech Link
2: Kate Osborne (Lab - Jarrow) have had to choose between buying a house or having a baby—a decision that couples should never be forced - Speech Link
3: Joanna Cherry (SNP - Edinburgh South West) I am proud that I can stand up to speak for the lesbians who reject the forced teaming of lesbians with - Speech Link
4: Stuart Andrew (Con - Pudsey) Mention was made of the equal marriage debates that we had in this Chamber. - Speech Link
5: Kate Osborne (Lab - Jarrow) Member for Edinburgh South West (Joanna Cherry), using problematic language such as “deluded” and “forced - Speech Link