Note
Issued also in French under title: Rapport sur la pratique des marriages forcés au Canada : entrevues avec des intervenant(e)s de première ligne : une recherche exploratoire menée à Montréal et à Toronto en 2008.
Cover title.
"Presented to: Family, Children and Youth Section, Department of Justice Canada"--Cover.
"November 2008"--Cover.
Summary
"This report follows an annotated bibliography conducted to begin to understand the
phenomenon of forced marriage in Canada, the extent, the issues and context, the causes
and consequences, and the means employed by frontline workers to help persons who are
victims of such practices.
To that end, this study was based on a qualitative survey of field workers who deal with
this issue. It looked at two aspects: the situations of individuals faced with the prospect of
a forced marriage, and the support provided by community workers.
The goal of the survey that forms the basis of this report was to collect field data to begin
to understand this practice, to study the form it takes, and its causes and consequences, to
note the actions undertaken at the community intervention level to counter it, to identify
some elements that can be used to develop policies, programs and preventive, educational
and legislative measures, and finally . . . to pave the way for broader research on the
subject. This qualitative study is strictly exploratory and is not based on any particular
theoretical framework."--Pages 1, 2.
Contents
1. Introduction --
1.1. Methodology --
1.2. Occupational profile of respondents --
1.3. Difficulties encountered -- 2. Analysis and interpretation of interviews --
2.1. Socio-demographic description of individuals threatened with or victims of a
forced marriage --
2.2. Types of forced marriage --
2.3. How respondents perceive forced marriage and the distinction they make
between a forced and an arranged marriage --
2.4. Reasons for forced marriage --
2.5. Pressure brought to bear by the family and social circle --
2.6. Strategies, bargaining and family conflicts --
2.7. Forced marriage, threatened forced marriage, what are the consequences? --
2.8. Help provided by service providers to victims of forced marriage or persons
threatened with forced marriage -- 3. What remains to be done --
3.1. The role to be played by government to counter forced marriage --
3.2. The role to be played by civil society -- 4. Recommendations -- 5. Conclusion.