Forced marriage

A forced marriage happens when people marry without their consent. This means they do not agree to the union. Sometimes, a person might agree at first but is later forced to stay. This is different from an arranged marriage. In an arranged marriage, families or matchmakers help find a spouse. However, the people involved can still say no to the idea.

In some forced marriages, people feel pressure from their families to obey. This pressure can be subtle or it can be physical. Some scholars even use the term "conjugal slavery" to describe this experience. They feel the word "marriage" sounds too positive for such a hard situation.

Many international groups believe forced marriage is a violation of human rights. The United Nations says people should have the freedom to choose a spouse. This choice is part of a person's dignity and equality. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights supports this idea of freedom. The International Labour Organization also calls it a form of modern slavery. Even the Roman Catholic Church says a marriage is only valid if both people consent freely.

In 2013, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution against these practices. They want to help people live lives free from violence.

History shows that marriage customs have changed a lot over time. Until the 18th century, arranged marriages were very common across the world. Often, relatives like parents or grandparents made the decisions. These arrangements often involved a legal transfer of dependency for women. In the 19th century, a movement called romanticism brought new ideas about love. This helped people start to accept the idea of marrying for love.

In the United States and the United Kingdom, child marriages were once common. Today, many people consider child marriage to be a form of forced marriage. This is because children may not be able to make a fully informed choice.

Different groups have used forced marriage for specific reasons in the past. For example, the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia forced many people into marriages. They did this to increase the population and continue their revolution. These ceremonies could be very large, involving up to 160 couples at once. Another historical example involves a blacksmith named John R. Jewitt. He was a captive of the Nootka people from 1802 to 1805. He felt he had to choose marriage over a much worse punishment.

In war, the Special Court for Sierra Leone found that abducting women for marriage was a crime against humanity.

Over the last century, many countries have passed laws to create equality. In the mid-20th century, many Western nations changed their family laws. Between 1975 and 1979, countries like Italy, Spain, and West Germany overhauled their laws. In 1977, West Germany gave women the right to work without permission. In 1981, Spain changed laws so women could start legal proceedings on their own. Switzerland also made big changes through a referendum in 1985.

These laws help ensure that marriage is a partnership between equals. Today, the world continues to work toward making marriage a free choice for everyone.