Summary and Background
3.This Act provides civil remedies for those faced with forced marriage and for victims of forced marriage.
4.Many of the provisions in the Act emerged from the following Government consultations and reports:
“A Choice by Right”, a report issued by the working group established by the Government in 2000 to look at the question of forced marriage; and
“Forced Marriage, A Wrong Not a Right”, a consultation document issued by the Government in December 2005 and the response to that consultation dated June 2006.
5.The provisions also emerged from the consultation carried out by the Odysseus Trust, following the introduction into Parliament of the Bill, which resulted in the Act. The Trust supports the activities of Lord Lester of Herne Hill, the Private Peer sponsor of the Bill in the House of Lords.