Embassies prepped to prevent forced marriages
Young Swedes facing being forced into marriage while abroad this summer can expect more help from Swedish embassies and consulates abroad, according to the Swedish foreign ministry.
“While most are looking forward to the summer holidays when school is substituted to swimming and playing, some young boys and girls are instead worrying that the family are planning to force them into marriage abroad,” foreign minister Carl Bildt and minister for equality Nyamko Sabuni wrote in daily Aftonbladet.
Bildt and Sabuni also point to statistics from the National Board for Youth Affairs (Ungdomsstyrelsen) 8,500 young people in Sweden today say they are worried that they won’t get a say in who they will marry.
According to the advice on the foreign ministry webpage anyone worried about this should in the first instance contact the social services or the police where they live prior to travelling.
Those that still choose to go on the trip are advised to bring the contact details of Swedish authorities and a mobile phone with an extra SIM-card.
To write down all the numbers for friends and family in the country that you believe might be of help once there is also a god idea, according to the webpage.
Swedish embassies have recently received instructions as to what they can and should do if contacted by children and youths seeking help in relation to forced marriage or family related threats or violence abroad, according to the government.
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“While most are looking forward to the summer holidays when school is substituted to swimming and playing, some young boys and girls are instead worrying that the family are planning to force them into marriage abroad,” foreign minister Carl Bildt and minister for equality Nyamko Sabuni wrote in daily Aftonbladet.
Bildt and Sabuni also point to statistics from the National Board for Youth Affairs (Ungdomsstyrelsen) 8,500 young people in Sweden today say they are worried that they won’t get a say in who they will marry.
According to the advice on the foreign ministry webpage anyone worried about this should in the first instance contact the social services or the police where they live prior to travelling.
Those that still choose to go on the trip are advised to bring the contact details of Swedish authorities and a mobile phone with an extra SIM-card.
To write down all the numbers for friends and family in the country that you believe might be of help once there is also a god idea, according to the webpage.
Swedish embassies have recently received instructions as to what they can and should do if contacted by children and youths seeking help in relation to forced marriage or family related threats or violence abroad, according to the government.
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