This webinar provides an in-depth perspective on challenges that survivors of forced marriage experience. Participants will be able to describe forced and child marriage and its intersections with other forms of abuse, articulate the health impacts of forced and child marriage, and demonstrate an understanding of best practices when it comes to screening and response to survivors and individuals at risk to reduce and prevent future harm in a healthcare setting. Dr. Batool completed a qualitative investigation intended to assess how forced marriages influence women’s physical and psychological well-being. This research provides deep insight on survivor’s experience and overall well-being.

The webinar was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP), grant number 90ZV0142 and produced by the Tahirih Justice Center. The contents of this webinar are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of HHS.

For more, see our Tip Sheet for Healthcare Providers

The Forced Marriage Initiative joined with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) to host a webinar titled Forced and Child Marriage in Refugee Communities: Recognizing the Problem & Responding to Individuals at Risk. The webinar discussed the reasons behind forced and child marriage, the shape these harms take within refugee communities, how they intersect with other forms of harm, and best practices for identifying and responding to forced and child marriage.

For more, see our Tip Sheet for Refugee Service Providers and reports on Child Marriage in the United States.

Michigan recently became the 10th state to ban child marriage, a milestone victory! In this webinar, Casey Swegman, Director of Public Policy, and Alex Goyette, Public Policy Manager, discuss this significant milestone and Tahirih’s vision for ending child marriage in the next 40 states.

Forced marriages that are threatened or happen abroad can put survivors in especially challenging and dangerous situations. Services may be more difficult to access, and attempting to return to the United States can be difficult and dangerous.

This session will discuss the advanced risk assessment and safety planning required for these cases, the long-term emotional support often required by survivors in a prolonged situation of forced travel, and the interagency coordination required for emergency repatriations.

Hellitz Villegas, FMI Project Manager
Briana Roberts, FMI Project Associate

For more information on how to assist individuals at risk of a forced marriage and safely plan to avoid or prepare for overseas travel, read our tip sheet: Safety Planning for Travel Overseas Tip Sheet .

Forced and child marriage are significant, yet hidden, problems in the United States that impact individuals from every socio-economic status, ethnic and religious background. While there is growing recognition that these forms of abuse are present in the U.S., many survivors and individuals at risk of all ages still struggle to receive the support and services they need to get safe and rebuild their lives on their own terms.

In this webinar FMI staff cover the nature of forced marriage, the connection between forced marriage and other forms of abuse, such as domestic violence and child abuse, and the unique challenges of providing support and safety-planning in these cases.

Hellitz Villegas, FMI Project Manager
Briana Roberts, FMI Project Associate
Casey Carter Swegman, Director of Public Policy

For more information on how forced marriage intersects with other forms of abuse, read our report: The Intersectionality of Forced Marriage and Other Forms of Abuse in the United States.
For comprehensive guidance for service providers who may encounter individuals facing forced marriage, read our A Framework for Identifying and Responding to Cases of Forced Marriage.