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What
is a forced marriage?
It is
to be forced to marry a person known or unknown against one's will.
The practice of forced marriages goes against the liberty of conscience.
It is to ignore the lifestyle choices of these young women.
This practice is a form of discrimination.
It is also a psychological and physical violence which leads to numerous
difficulties:
Psychological and physical suffering
Loss of confidence in oneself and in others, potentially destroying
emotional anchors and autonomy.
The risk of family conflicts, even a complete rupture with the family
and circle of friends.
Psychological distress leading to depression and eventually suicide
because it is difficult to choose between cutting all ties with your
family and accepting an unwanted marriage.
Loss of cultural and familial identity despite the love and respect
a young woman has for her parents.
Material difficulties
Finding housing, even a temporary shelter, looking for or keeping
a job, and continuing studies is difficult. Placed in front of the
fait accompli, sometimes in danger and without financial resources,
the young women must deal with everything to preserve her autonomy.
Once a young woman expresses her disagreement, her papers are sometimes
confiscated. She finds herself in an even more precarious material
situation.
Legal problems
The problems aren't always limited to before the marriage but also
after… It is possible to ask for support or a recourse concerning
divorce, annulment of the marriage, or for problems with papers.
Here,
what to do?
Where
to go to speak with someone?
As a measure of precaution
If you cannot go yourself, you can have your situation presented by
someone close to you; a friend, a social worker, a professor, a psychologist,
a teacher, a mediator, a counselor from the Mission Locale or any
other trustworthy person.
To obtain protection
In the case of a forced marriage, you can write to the State Prosecutor
(Procureur de la République) on your own initiative. Minor
or young adult (until the eve of your 21st birthday), you can also
write to the Juvenile Court Judge yourself or call the telephone number
119 (anonymous and free). If you would like to be helped in this procedure,
contact a specialized association.
(See useful addresses)
It is useful
Photocopy all important documents: identity card, living permit (carte
de séjour), passport, school certificates, Social Security
card (carte Vitale) and all other documents that you believe can be
useful.
Leave these documents in a secure place: a friend, and association…
Gather documents (medical certificates, witness statements from people
close to you, various attestations …) which prove that you are in
danger.
Rapidly contact one or several associations.
In the case of confiscation or the destruction of your papers, file
a declaration of loss or file a complaint for theft against X if you
don't wish to name the people involved.
And
there?
In the
case of a hasty departure "on vacation"
An adult woman (if she is a minor, the mother or the father who opposes
this marriage) can, in certain situations, make a written request
forbidding an exit visa (by specifying the time, the date of the flight
and her identity: contact the police).
Be advised that even at the last minute, a young woman can alert customs
or the border police or airport immigration who should protect her.
It is never too late
Who to alert:
French
embassies or consulates, no matter what the nationality of the young
woman. Even as a foreign national, she can obtain a return visa with
her foreigner number which appears on her alien resident permit.
Legal authorities or an attorney in order to file a complaint for
sequestration, start divorce proceedings or annulations of the marriage.
The family code in most countries requires the consent of each of
the spouses who have the right to refuse the marriage.
Attention be advised that:
If a young woman resides more than 3 consecutives years outside of
French territory, she loses her right to live in France. And this
is the case even if it is noted on her alien resident permit "valid
10 years" (valable 10 ans).
Useful
Addresses
Here
is a list of useful
addresses
And more:
In Ile de France
Voix
de femmes : 01 30 31 55 76
Maison de quartier des Linandes
Place des Linandes beiges
95000 Cergy
AFAVO
: 01 30 32 41 28
Association des Femmes Africaines du Val d'Oise
8, chemin de la Surprise
95800 Cergy St Christophe
CIDFF
: 01 34 41 42 93
Centre d'Information des Droits des Femmes et des Familles
SAN Parvis de la Préfecture BP 122
95022 Cergy Cedex
Du Côté
des Femmes : 01 30 73 51 52
31 rue du chemin de fer
95800 Cergy St Christophe
MDJ :
01 30 38 45 15
Maison de la Justice et du Droit
12 rue crève-Cœur
95800 Cergy St Christophe
Mission
Locale : 01 34 41 70 70
Point Santé Jeunes
18 rue de la Bastide - Imm. Le Sextant Hall B
95800 Cergy St Christophe
MFPF
: 01 30 30 26 66
Mouvement Français pour le Planning Familial
Tour bleue des Cerclades
95800 Cergy-Préfecture
ASFAD
: 01 53 79 18 73
Association de Solidarité avec les Femmes Algériennes
Démocrates
94 boulevard Massena - 9 villa d'Este
75013 Paris
Elélé,
Migrations et Cultures de Turquie : 01 43 57 76 28
26 rue de la Pierre levée
75011 Paris
GAMS
: 01 43 48 10 87
Section Française du Comité Inter-africain
66 rue des Grands-Champs
75020 Paris
Voix
d'Elles Rebelles : 01 48 22 93 29
Cité Gabriel Péri - 1 place Lautréamont
93200 St-Denis
Les Nanas
Beurs
70 rue Castéja
92100 Boulogne
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