Fortschritt für die Frauenrechte in England: Zwangsehen sollen demnächst per Gesetz verboten werden. Blair, anfänglich ein Gegner der Gesetzesinitiative, hat sich nun entschieden, die Sache zu unterstützen:
However, the Lester bill would make forced marriage a civil rather than criminal offence. Offenders would not go to jail, but victims could sue for damages. Lester’s bill also allows for a third party to bring charges.
Blair’s conversion will be welcomed by many MPs. ‚I support the Lester bill in principle,‘ said Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr. ‚There’s a real issue that needs to be addressed here. Young people need to be supported on this issue. If they are forced into marriage it breeds resentment and then all sorts of issues that I have to deal with as a constituency MP.‘
Forced marriages tend to come primarily from Muslim and Sikh communities, and around 30 per cent involve minors. Lord Lester’s private member’s bill, co-authored by the Southall Black Sisters pressure group, would make it unlawful for people outside the immediate family to aid and abet forced marriage.
Es handelt sich aparter Weise um eine Gesetzesinitiative der Liberalen Demokraten.