Intervening in forced marriage

Who are the guidelines for?

This guideline is intended for professionals in social welfare and healthcare, early childhood education and schools, as well as other professionals engaged in client work.
The guideline includes recommended practices. It helps you to identify forced marriage, to bring it up in conversation, and to intervene in the situation.

What does forced marriage mean?

Forced marriage refers to a marriage or a similar relationship that one or both parties have entered into against their will, or from which withdrawal is prevented.

Forced marriage must be distinguished from an arranged marriage, which both parties have voluntarily agreed to. Forced marriage often occurs due to an unequal and patriarchal value system, social exclusion or poverty. Victims of forced marriage are often exposed to various forms of violence and exploitation at work.

Under Finnish criminal law, forcing someone into marriage is punishable as human trafficking, aggravated human trafficking or coercion.

A marriage that has been entered into under coercion may be dissolved by annulment. The legal effects of an annulment are otherwise the same as those of a divorce, but the spouse’s civil status reverts to their pre-marital status. Children born in the marriage retain their rights to inheritance and maintenance after annulment. Leaving a religious union does not necessarily occur through a legal divorce but may instead occur in accordance with the community’s internal practices.

Forced marriage may also constitute child marriage, where at least one spouse is under 18 years old. A marriage may be deemed legally null and void if one party is clearly underage and there is a significant age difference between the spouses. 

Recognise the signs of forced marriage 

Anyone can become a victim of forced marriage, regardless of gender, ethnic background, age or education. Indicators of intimate partner violence may point to forced marriage, but it is important to understand the client’s overall situation rather than focusing on individual signs.

Forced marriage may cause, for example:

• various mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, memory loss, post-traumatic stress disorder, self-harm
• physical problems, such as worsening of chronic illnesses, pain, bruises and injuries
• harm related to sexual and reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections
• financial dependence, lack of educational and employment opportunities 
• isolation from social relationships, loss of family
• shame, guilt, narrowing of life expectations. 

It is common for victims of forced marriage to always be accompanied by another person at appointments or when handling matters elsewhere, and their appointments may be cancelled or not attended. Even if the client has lived in Finland for a long time, they may not speak Finnish or Swedish at all and may be unfamiliar with Finland’s service system.

Address the issue

eeking help can be very difficult for a victim of forced marriage. The victim may face threats, pressure and coercive control, and may not have access to the internet, a phone or support services. Their awareness of their rights and the services available in Finland may also be limited. They may worry about their parents being held criminally responsible and fear deportation or losing custody of their children.

Addressing the issue requires sufficient trust and time.  

• Arrange a private moment during the meeting with the client without the presence of an accompanying person.
• Whenever necessary, use an interpreter who is authorised and not from the client’s close community.
• Respect the client’s preference regarding the interpreter’s gender. 

You can use open-ended questions to encourage the client to describe their situation in their own words. You can explore the situation with the client by asking, for example:

• Do you make decisions about matters concerning your own life? What kind of decisions? If not, who makes them for you?
• Do you work or study?
• How do you spend your free time?
• Do you spend time outside the home on your own?
• Do you freely use the internet or phone?
• Can you decide for yourself whether you want to marry and whom you want to marry?
• Do you feel safe?

Ensure safety and guide to services

• Safety first: Create a safety plan together with the client and ensure privacy.
  Forms and tools 
• Provide clear information: Explain the client’s rights and available services (shelters, Nollalinja helpline, crisis support, social welfare and healthcare, NGOs) and give reasons for your actions in an understandable way. 
• Consider trauma: Work sensitively and consult other professionals when necessary. 
• Legal measures: Inform the client about a restraining order and a non-disclosure order for personal safety reasons, the MARAC process, and the National Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking (referral to the assistance system only with the client’s consent). 
  The National Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking (Ihmiskauppa.fi)
• Notifications: File a criminal report or guide the client to do so. File a child protection notification if needed. Consult the police, child protection services or Victim Support Finland when necessary. Note that the risk of violence may escalate after a report is filed.
  Child welfare notification
  Victim Support Finland (Riku.fi)
• Data protection: Record the situation carefully in the client or patient information system, delay the publication of the entries if necessary; make sure that the client’s close relatives cannot access the information. 
• Divorce and annulment: Explain the process, but acknowledge that planning a divorce may result in a higher risk of violence. 
• Collaboration: Share your concerns and cooperate with other professionals. Consult other professionals, the police, child protection services and the National Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking when needed.