Time to UnMute | Understanding Forced Marriage in Hong Kong
- Organisation : The Zubin Foundation
This report highlights the reality that forced marriage occurs in Hong Kong. Eleven women were courageous and generous enough to share their experiences and perspectives on early and forced marriage. Insights from religious leaders are shared to provide religious context to the report. As noted, whilst religion may be claimed as a justification for forced marriage, this is not accepted by the religious leaders who shared their words.
Hong Kong has an active civil society and several civil society leaders from Hong Kong were able to share their perspectives on forced marriage in Hong Kong. Some shared their experience of working with girls and women in Hong Kong. They described the use of emotional blackmail and referred to the ‘family’s honour’ and that in the end girls can feel there are no choices for them.
Involving policy and legislation with family life and intimate decisions about marriage is challenging. What is clear is that interventions need to be considered and responsive to the needs of the individuals and the community. The Zubin Foundation proposes that there is a continuum of actions under four broad categories - understand, safety, mindset and legislation.