Forced marriages often do not come as a surprise

During summer vacations in Germany every year, many girls and boys are forced to marry. The numbers are hard to grasp, but prevention work in schools shows that the issue is far from insignificant. On the contrary.

As summer vacations approach, most look forward to them with excitement. But for some, the anticipation is tinged with fear, wondering if the trip to their parents' homeland is really just to see the family before resuming life in Germany. Many teachers are now all too familiar with this phenomenon: especially girls don't return to class after the vacations. They got married in the summer, not of their own free will, but under family pressure.

The statistics on how many girls and boys are forced to marry each year are difficult to come by. Since 2011, when the criminal offense of forced marriage was enshrined in paragraph 237 of the German Criminal Code (StGB), such cases have been recorded in the police criminal statistics. In 2022, a total of 67 cases and 68 victims were recorded. Of these, 31 forced marriages were actually consummated. Consultation centers estimate that the numbers are much higher. The "Help Line Against Violence Against Women" reported 180 consultations for 2023 in which forced marriage was an issue.

At the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM), a project is currently underway to more accurately determine the number of cases. Mathis Herpell of ntv.de explains, "We question not only a representative group of people but also ask if the person themselves has been affected by forced marriage." The sociologist is involved in the study, which is still ongoing and collecting data until the end of the year. To shed light on the dark field as much as possible, they are also asking, "How many people do you know who have been affected by forced marriage?" With these numbers, researchers aim to determine the prevalence of forced marriage among the surveyed population. Their goal is a rough estimate of the cases in Germany.

"A massive issue"

The women's rights organization Terre des Femmes (TdF) refers to a recent survey by the Equal Opportunities Commissioner of the Berlin district of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. It revealed that in Berlin alone for the year 2022, there were 496 cases of (impending) forced marriage. 88 percent of the actual forced marriages took place abroad.

In Berlin, where summer vacations begin in mid-July, "White Week" takes place in mid-June. The name derives from the bridal gowns in which girls and young women are married. Terre des Femmes organizes "White Week" in collaboration with the police in various schools to sensitize students and appeal to their civil courage. Teachers are well aware of the problem.

TdF expert Myria Böhmecke accompanied 33 workshops during "White Week" in Berlin. "This is a massive issue," she told ntv.de. A teacher reportedly spoke of a boy "whose family members were standing outside the school and exerting pressure." A school social worker reportedly spoke of a girl who had been "kidnapped," and they had been trying to get her back for a year.

Experiences like these are the reason for intensive prevention work, as girls and boys have little chance of returning once they are abroad. This is mainly due to the actions of families, who in most cases take away the passport and also the phone from the affected individuals. Many young people don't even know where they are. "They have no money. They are overwhelmed and have few opportunities to seek help," says Boehmecke. In other countries, there are not always protective institutions and counseling centers. If the forcibly married girl does not have German citizenship, the German embassy in the respective country is powerless.

Unlikely Return

According to experts and professionals, forced marriages do not usually come as a complete surprise. The website Zwangsheirat.de, where Terre de Femmes provides information for victims and professionals, lists several possible indicators for an impending forced marriage. This includes the fact that the girl is often heavily isolated and controlled. She is not allowed to attend activities outside of school, such as not participating in class trips or being taken to and from school. Often, siblings have already been married as minors or have become parents early. The victims report that they often know that a big party is being prepared or that they will not come back from the holidays.

Bohmecke has experienced that many still believe it will not happen to them. "They have a suspicion, but in most cases they don't want to believe it and go ahead anyway." Some think they are still just 14 or 15 and believe they will wait for their parents. Or they think they have a say and can at least object if they don't like the chosen candidate. "They think I can still say no there," says the expert. "If anything, the engagement party will still take place. Then I'll come home again and can still call for help." In many cases, the wedding is already planned, and the guests are either already there or are coming when the victim is at the airport.

However, it is not easy for the victims to seek help even just before departure. This is mainly because many are already strictly controlled before departure, and there are only a few opportunities. Social pressure in the environment is often great, and there is fear. Instead of addressing the problem directly, teachers could discuss the desire for a conversation about the last classroom work or a question about a presentation. School social workers are bound by confidentiality and cannot speak without permission with the parents, but they can facilitate contacts to counseling centers or protective institutions.

Clear Pattern

Victims come from a much larger number of nationalities than one might think. In the Berlin survey, the number of affected individuals from Arab countries decreased from 215 in 2017 to 143 cases. The number of cases of forced marriages among individuals from Syria also decreased to 96 cases (2017: 114). The number of cases among people with Turkish migration background remained roughly the same, with 92 cases in 2017 and 94 cases in 2022. However, the number of cases among individuals from Balkan countries more than doubled, from 59 cases in 2017 to 121 cases.

The United Nations Children's Fund frequently emphasizes that this phenomenon is not directly connected to any specific nationality, religion or culture, but rather with extremely patriarchal mindsets. Myria Böhmecke identifies the main cause of forced marriages as "a very traditional view of men and women."

Girls and boys are raised from a very young age to fulfill their future roles. "Girls are raised to be later wives, mothers and housewives. In essence, there is no alternative to this image of women. Parents look for husbands for girls, girls must go into marriage as virgins." For boys, the role of family head is predetermined, they are the ones who make the decisions. Women are expected to submit to them. "It's essentially a tradition that is passed down, a construct of a patriarchal social order," according to Böhmecke.

The issue of forced marriage, a massive concern, is not limited to specific nationalities or religions, but is rooted in deeply patriarchal mindsets that view men and women in traditional roles.
In collaboration with schools, Terre des Femmes organizes events like "White Week" to sensitize students about the problem of forced marriage and appeal to their civil courage, as many teachers are well aware of this issue.
The United Nations Children's Fund emphasizes that forced marriage is not an isolated issue confined to schools, as it is connected to a broader societal construct of a patriarchal social order that shapes the roles of women and men from a very young age.