Highlights: Italy: the increase in the number of forced marriages fuels the debate on the lack of prevention. In Italy, there is a law to punish those responsible for forced marriages. But according to several associations, this phenomenon is increasing. This is particularly in the north of the country where there are numerous Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian communities. Since the right-wing and far-right coalition came to power sixteen months ago, this has not really been a priority for the executive. The problem is that there are not enough preventive measures to make it easier to intercept risky situations.

In Italy, a law exists to punish those responsible for forced marriages. But according to several associations, this phenomenon is increasing, particularly in the north of the country where communities…

Italy: the increase in the number of forced marriages fuels the debate on the lack of prevention

In Italy, a law exists to punish those responsible for forced marriages.

But according to several associations, this phenomenon is increasing, particularly in the north of the country where there are numerous Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian communities.

And this fuels the debate on the lack of prevention.

In Italy, there is a law to punish those responsible for forced marriages, but, according to several associations, this phenomenon is on the increase.

By: Anne Le Nir Follow

From our correspondent in Rome,

Italy

, NGOs, which fight against forced marriages, are trying to respond to the number of forced unions concerning

young girls

of foreign origin residing in Italy.

According to estimates from the Italian branch of

Action Aid

, each year around 2,000 adolescent girls or young women are at risk of being victims of arranged marriages.

This figure should be taken with a grain of salt, given the very clandestine nature of this phenomenon.

However, there is a law which introduces the offense of coercion or incitement to forced marriage.

This is a 2019 law on

the protection of victims of

domestic and gender violence, called “code red”.

It provides for the imprisonment, up to seven years, of any person found responsible for such an offense, whether foreigners living in Italy or Italian citizens residing abroad.

Not a priority for the Meloni government

The problem is that there are not enough preventive measures that would make it easier to intercept risky situations.

But also to build a protection network, involving schools, social services, anti-violence centers or shelters, law enforcement and justice.

Since the right-wing and far-right coalition came to power sixteen months ago, this has not really been a priority for the executive.

For example, a bill aimed at granting a residence permit, for humanitarian reasons, to a foreign person, declaring to the Italian authorities to be a victim of violence or incitement to a forced marriage, was adopted by the Chamber of Deputies, in April 2022. At that time, Mario Draghi was still Prime Minister.

But since then, this bill has languished in a drawer in a committee in the Senate.

Also listen to 8 BILLION NEIGHBORS – Arranged marriages, forced marriages: how to put an end to it?

Italy: the increase in the number of forced marriages fuels the debate on the lack of prevention

Italy: the increase in the number of forced marriages fuels the debate on the lack of prevention

Not a priority for the Meloni government

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