POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 83 Violence based on “honour” happens when family members use violence to protect family honour.The victim is usually female. The victim has behaved in ways that the family believes will bring shame or dishonour. For example, the family might not approve of: • dating or talking to boys; • having sexual relationships outside of marriage; • wearing what they believe is the wrong clothing; or • refusing a forced marriage. The family members believe that using violence will bring back the family’s reputation.The types of violence the family uses can include: • beatings; • forced confinement; • threats; • counselling suicide; and • killing. These actions are crimes. If you know a child who is afraid for their safety because of family honour, contact the police. Underage and forced marriage Marriage in Canada Canadian requirements for a valid marriage include that: • Both people getting married must give their free and enlightened consent to the marriage. • Both must be at least 16 years old. • Neither of them can be married to anyone else. Forced marriage A forced marriage occurs when a person does not want to marry, but is made to marry by someone else. It is not the same as an arranged marriage, where both people consent to the marriage. Family members might believe that the marriage is the right thing for the person and for the family. Sometimes they will even use physical violence, threats of violence, abduction, forced confinement or emotional abuse to force someone to marry. But forcing someone to marry against their will is a crime in Canada. It is also a crime to take a person under 18 years of age out of Canada to force them to marry in another country. Some tactics used to force a person to marry are also crimes - for example, threats and violence. Reproduced from the Department of Justice publication Child Abuse is Wrong: What Can I Do? without affiliation or endorsement of the Government of Canada. (continued) Violence based on so-called honour
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