Yle reported about a rise of forced marriages in Finland with the reference to Finnish Victim Support Center (RIKU) and the Organization for Assistance to Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings ( https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/novosti/chislo_zhertv_prinuditelnykh_brakov_v_finlyandii_rastet/1204531)
Ihmiskauppa: A forced marriage is a form of human trafficking
In Finland, forced marriage has been criminalised as a form of human trafficking, aggravated human trafficking or coercion. Its separate criminalisation, i.e. passing separate legislation on forced marriage, is currently under review.
This definition is, however, very narrow. Firstly, it only refers to women. It also excludes situations in which the marriage was initially entered into voluntarily to some degree. (from https://www.ihmiskauppa.fi/en/human_trafficking/forms_of_human_trafficking/forced_marriages)
The Finnish Ministry of Justice published guidelines in 2020 on forced marriages and their consequences in criminal legislation. The guidelines are currently only available in Finnish and Swedish.
Where a person can support?
https://protukipiste.fi/ Support to victims of sexual violence and exploitation, including those involved in prostitution.
https://monikanaiset.fi/ Violence victims can receive support in different languages (Arabic, Dari,
English, Spanish, Farsi, Persian, French, Finnish, Belarusian and Russian)
https://www.riku.fi/ Victims of any crime will be supported
People can contact anonymously.
Liliya Zenina, Coordinator for Stakeholders
