Forced marriage: when “I do” is not an option

Imagine waking up one day and your family tells you they’ve already decided who you’re going to spend the rest of your life with, that you have no say and that your dreams, your plans, your future no longer belong to you. This is the reality for more than 22 million people around the world trapped in forced marriages. 15 million of these are women and a good portion are children.

We often think this happens far from us, but the truth is more uncomfortable: forced marriages also happen in Spain, in our cities, perhaps closer than we imagine. From the rural mountains of Asia to the urban neighborhoods of Europe, this practice persists and no, it’s not a cultural tradition; it’s a violation of human rights.

Geeta could have been a part of this statics, but it’s a great joy and satisfaction to say that, thanks to the support of Mumbai Smiles, this hasn’t happened. Their story, which you can read in full here, reminds us that behind every number is a real person, with real dreams, whose life can change thanks to timely intervention and the right support.

There are three ways of marriages which are important to differentiate

To effectively combat forced marriages, we must first understand exactly what we’re talking about. Not all marriages that seem strange to us are forced and it’s crucial to make these distinctions to avoid falling prey to cultural prejudices.

The child marriage It occurs when a person under the age of 18 marries, usually without the real capacity to consent due to their age and maturity. It most often affects girls who are considered an economic burden on their families or are viewed as commodities.

The arranged marriage, On the other hand, it’s a practice where families propose potential partners, but the final decision always rests with the person involved. Here, there is real freedom to say no, to get to know the other person, to take time to decide. Consent is genuine and free.

But the forced marriage, it’s completely different. Here, there is no choice. The person is forced into marriage through psychological pressure, threats, emotional blackmail, or even physical violence. There is no way out, no alternative. And this, without exception, constitutes a serious violation of human rights and, legally, a crime of human trafficking.

Forced marriage: a system of controlling

Forced marriages rarely occur in isolation. They can be part of a broader system of control that begins long before the ceremony. Victims often face progressive restrictions: their access to education is limited, their movements are controlled, their communications are monitored, and they are isolated from their support networks. That’s why, at Mumbai Smiles, we always insist that access to education reduces the chances of becoming a victim of trafficking for many reasons: such as access to information or having supportive friends and role models.

Once forced into marriage, the risk of exploitation increases. Domestic violence, sexual exploitation, forced labor inside and outside the home, and domestic servitude become constant threats. Many victims also face unwanted and repeated pregnancies, health problems without medical care and social isolation that makes it extremely difficult to seek help.

The family could be its own trap

One of the cruelest characteristics of forced marriages is how the family structure itself becomes a trap. The pressure comes not from strangers, but from the people they are supposed to protect and love: parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings. This reality forces victims to face a devastating emotional conflict between their desire for freedom and their family loyalty.

Furthermore, social stigma acts as an additional barrier. Victims fear being rejected by their community, losing their family’s financial support, or even becoming victims of “honor killings” if they try to escape. This fear of rejection and retaliation keeps many people trapped in abusive situations for years.

What can you do to prevent forced marriage?

Forced marriages don’t happen overnight. There are often early signs we can learn to recognize. A person at risk may show sudden changes in behavior, seem especially anxious or depressed when talking about their future, or mention intense family pressures related to marriage.

We should also be alert to situations such as sudden trips to the family’s country of origin, especially if the person expresses fear or reluctance to travel. Progressive restrictions on freedoms, such as dropping out of school without a clear explanation, losing contact with friends, or drastic changes in clothing, can be important indicators.

If you think you may be aware of any of these cases, please contact our team: trata@sonrisasdebombay.org – +34-634406446.

We also invite you to support our prevention actions:

• Organizing a talk in your workplace or community. More información and prevencion@sonrisasdebombay.org
• Financially supporting our actions.

Together, we can achieve more endings where “I do” has real meaning.