Scots with mental and physical disabilities forced into marriages against their will

Excerpt from: Daily Record (click for full article)

 

Enable, Scotland’s leading charity for people with learning disabilities, last night said they are deeply concerned about the number of disabled people being forced into marriage, especially as many are raped and subjected to mental and physical abuse.

A spokesman added: “A person with learning disabilities may be seen as easier to deceive or coerce into marriage.

“Many families also believe marriage will ‘cure’ learning disabilities.”

Last November, Scotland became the first country in the UK to legislate against forced marriages.

In 2011, the UK’s Forced Marriage Unit revealed there were 1468 cases of young people asking for help or support. Of these, 66 had a disability.