EXTENSION-FORCED MARRIAGE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AMONG SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITIES

This study looked at forced marriages and domestic violence within South Asian communities in Newcastle, Sunderland, South Tyneside, in the North East of England. The research looked at the following issues:

• the experiences of forced marriages among women and men from South Asian communities in Newcastle, Sunderland and South Tyneside; what are the perceptions and attitudes of statutory and voluntary agencies and community leaders;
• women’s experiences of domestic violence in arranged, forced and love marriages;
• how notions of ‘sharam’ and ‘izzat’ impact on experiences of marriage and/or domestic violence;
• identification of areas for positive development for agencies and organisations, primarily the police and voluntary agencies.