Professionals

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Aneeta Prem

Forced Marriage

A marriage must be entered into with the free and full consent of both parties; you should feel you have a choice. A forced marriage is where one or both individuals do not (or in cases of people with learning disabilities, cannot) consent to the marriage and pressure or abuse is used. Forced marriage is illegal in Great Britain. It is, in some cases, a form of child abuse and is a serious abuse of human rights. The pressure put on people to marry, against their will, can be physical (including threats and actual physical and sexual violence) or emotional and psychological (for example, when someone is made to feel as though they are bringing shame on their family). Financial abuse is also a possibility.
Female Genital Mutilation
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is also sometimes referred to as female genital cutting or female circumcision. There are no health benefits to FGM and it is recognised internationally as a human rights violation.
FGM causes untold physical and emotional trauma, whilst enforcing the inherent gender inequality found in cultures where it is practised. FGM procedures can cause:
- Severe bleeding and, in some cases, death
- Problems with giving birth, later in life – including the death of the baby
- Lifetime susceptibility to infection
- Psychological damage.
Dishonour abuse
What is dis-honour based abuse or violence?
Dis-honour based abuse is a violent crime or incident that may have been committed to protect or defend the so-called honour of the family or community.
It is often linked to relatives or acquaintances, who mistakenly believe that someone has brought shame to their family or community by doing something that is not in keeping with the traditional beliefs of that culture. For example, dis-honour based violence might be committed against people who:
- become involved with a boyfriend or girlfriend from a different culture or religion
- want to get out of a forced marriage
- wear clothes or take part in activities that might not be considered traditional within a particular culture.

Free Online Safeguarding Training Course

Developed for the Home Office by Virtual College, follow Hope’s journey as we explore the key issues relating to Female Genital Mutilation and how they affect an individual throughout their life.

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Visits

Freedom charity delivers outstanding training and conferences to all front line staff.

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Police

We can help train police forces to help them combat Female Genital Mutilation, forced marriages and other crimes against children.

Judiciary

We can help judges and other judiciary staff better understand Female Genital Mutilation and forced marriages.

Teachers

We help teachers spot the signs of forced marriages and other issues affecting children.

Social Services

We can help train social workers to pick up on the signs of Female Genital Mutilation, forced marriages and other crimes against children.

NHS

We can help train NHS staff to help them diagnose the signs of Female Genital Mutilation and other crimes against children.

MP’S

We can help train politicians to help them combat Female Genital Mutilation, forced marriages and other crimes against children.

Testimonials

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Your help and support in raising awareness is crucial to saving lives. Alternatively, just text the words FREE02 followed by the amount you can give (£2 / £5 / £10 etc) to 70070.

Our founder @ANEETAPREM spoke to @GBNEWS this morning about new legislation banning virginity testing and the imperative to ban so called “hymen repair” at the same time pic.twitter.com/hzmjQBrtHe

RT @BarnieChoudhury This from the person who pioneered change🙏🏽✊🏽🤛🏽👏🏽 twitter.com/FreedomCharity…

Statement from our founder @ANEETAPREM on the government’s historic legislation outlawing both child marriage and virginity testing pic.twitter.com/lammH5BzDE

RT @JoeHayman Huge step forward - congratulations to all involved in the campaign, particularly survivors. Hard work of eradication starts now @ANEETAPREM @FreedomCharity twitter.com/RicHolden/stat…

RT @BarnieChoudhury Didn’t I Tweet this story earlier this year @EasternEye?🤭 @ashishskynews I swear you’re up for @pressgazette award for this story, aren’t you?🤞🏽✊🏽🤛🏽 @ANEETAPREM @FreedomCharity thanks for all your continuing hard work on this🙏🏽 @EasternEye we make news others follow👏🏽 twitter.com/BBCNews/status…

RT @langdon_park Thank you to @ANEETAPREM for delivering the most inspiring workshop to our sixth form students. The work your charity does is exceptional. We look forward to working with you again. Our students so appreciated you signing their books as well. @FreedomCharity #Beinclusive pic.twitter.com/nOQ80zwAgA

RT @JoeHayman Strong statement from @FreedomCharity founder @ANEETAPREM welcoming twin commitments this week from the government to legislation outlawing child marriage and virginity testing. Congratulations to campaigners - the hard work of eradication starts now. pic.twitter.com/lquT0BrQs2

Latest News

Young girls forced into marriage during coronavirus lockdown

By Barnie Choudhury – Eastern Eye Children as young as 14 are contacting the police, using a special app, over fears they will be married against their will during the coronavirus lock down. That’s according to a leading charity which specialises in helping victims of forced marriage. The leap in numbers is an unintended consequence […]

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