Integration advisors to combat forced marriage

Norwegian authorities are establishing a system to assist Norwegian citizens abroad that have been, or are at risk of being, subject to forced marriage. From the summer of 2008 six integration advisors will be working with Norwegian embassies in countries where young Norwegians most often request assistance.

- We know that a number of young people from Norway that visit their families' homeland are subject to unacceptable pressure from the wider family to enter into a marriage they do not want. In order to reduce the risk of forced marriage, we are now establishing a system of assistance for those who need help, says Bjarne Håkon Hanssen, Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion.

The new integration advisors will be stationed at Foreign Service missions in countries with significant emigration to Norway, and where we have registered that forced marriages involving young people living in Norway occur. These countries are:

• Pakistan, Islamabad. The service will cover Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Jordan, Amman. The service will cover primarily Northern Iraq, but also Syria and Jordan, and other countries in the Middle East.
• Kenya, Nairobi. The service will cover East Africa and the Horn of Africa.
• Sri Lanka, Colombo, and possibly India, New Delhi. The service will cover India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
• Turkey, Ankara. The service will cover Iran and Turkey.
• Morocco, Rabat. The service will cover relevant countries in North Africa.

The integration advisors will help to strengthen administrative procedures in cases concerning forced marriage or other family-related issues. The advisors will work with local parties who can assist in the prevention of forced marriages in the relevant countries. They will also help to enhance competence in this field in Norway, in organisations and public bodies, locally and centrally.

- The aim is for all young boys and girls in Norway today to experience gender equality, equal opportunities, and  freedom to make their own choices, not least when it comes to choice of spouse, says Hanssen.

The minister further points out that we are also establishing a system of minority counsellors in upper secondary schools, with a high percentage of students with a minority background.  The counsellors will assist students with a minority background to enable them to complete upper secondary education and to help them to choose their own spouse. 

- Over the next three years we will work to develop new methods and knowledge in the field, says Hanssen. He expects that we will be aware of an increased number of cases of forced marriages in this period.

- But this will probably be the result of more persons becoming aware of their rights and possibility to get assistance, says the Minister.