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Tonight on CBC Newsworld: “Forced To Marry”
by Scott Gilbreath ~ March 23rd, 2009
“Forced To Marry” will be shown this evening on CBC Newsworld’s The Passionate Eye at 10 pm ET/PT. (11 pm Atlantic Time.)
Presenter Saira Khan journeys to Pakistan and reports the stories of two British women of Pakistani descent who were coerced into marrying men they hardly knew.
Entrepreneur and TV presenter Saira Khan travels to her parent’s country of origin, Pakistan, to reveal the shocking cases of forced marriages dealt with by the British High Commission’s Assistance Unit.
Forced To Marry, has unique access as it follows the work of this groundbreaking team and unveils the moving and dramatic stories of British citizens who risk rejection, loneliness and sometimes their lives, to break out of unwanted marriages. Often misunderstood as a religious tradition, forced marriage, as opposed to arranged marriage, is carried out against the victims’ will, or under duress.
This film follows consular staff Albert David and Theepan Salvaratnam on a number of dramatic rescues in remote and rural Pakistan. As the practice of forced marriage is still rife in certain regions, the team often walks into highly charged and potentially dangerous situations. Acting on distressed phone calls or text messages, Albert and Theepan enlist the help of local police to track down the victim’s location. They then ask for time alone with the women in order to establish her situation, and to offer her safe passage back to Britain via Islamabad. The film tells the dramatic stories of Tania and Rubina (not their real names) who approached the Assistance Unit for help.
[…]
Tackling hundreds of cases every year, the Assistance Unit is considered one of the world’s experts in fighting forced marriages – some of which lead to “honour killings”.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary revealed last November that British diplomats had helped over 400 people facing possible forced marriage.
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March 25th, 2009 at 11:36 AM
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