Forced marriage

In a forced marriage, individuals are compelled to enter into marriage through the threat or use of violence or other severe harm. It constitutes a serious violation of fundamental human rights. Forced marriages occur in many social, ethnic, and cultural contexts. They are particularly difficult to identify when they are not legally binding but are instead concluded informally according to religious, social, or cultural rites. (BMFSFJ)

In an arranged marriage, the partners do not choose each other themselves but are introduced by family members or marriage brokers. A forced marriage goes beyond this in that at least one of the two individuals does not consent to the marriage. The boundaries between the two are often blurred. Strong emotional pressure from the family and expectations within the social environment frequently create a perceived lack of alternatives. What is decisive is the affected person’s subjective perception of whether they are able to give free and self-determined consent.

The aim of forced marriage is often to strengthen existing ties between allied families and to preserve cultural homogeneity. Economic considerations may also play a role, for example when a woman is expected to be “provided for” through marriage to a financially better-off man, or when families seek economic benefit from the union. A forced marriage may also take place in order to secure residence status for a future partner in Germany. Finally, when a daughter or son is married abroad or to a partner from the country of origin (“import brides”), the intention may be to maintain ties to the homeland. In some cases, the marriage is arranged during a holiday trip to the country of origin. These cases are also referred to as “marriage abduction” and “holiday marriages.