Child Protection Guidance 2021

Part 4: Specific support needs and concerns 204 National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 Version 1.0 September 2021 4.432 The consequences of forced marriage can be devastating for the whole family, but especially to the young people affected. They may become estranged from their families and wider communities, lose out on educational opportunities, or become victims of domestic abuse. Rates of suicide and self-harm within forced marriages are high. 4.433 Potential indicators of honour-based abuse and forced marriages include: • concerns voiced by child or person in child’s network about going overseas ‘to visit relatives’ or attend a wedding • concerns expressed about a dowry being collected (usually jewellery, clothing, other material possessions) • a girl undergoing or at risk of undergoing FGM as part of her ‘preparation’ for the marriage 4.434 Education concerns: • absence, or persistent absence, from education • request for extended leave of absence and failure to return from visits of country of origin • decline in behaviour, engagement, performance or punctuality • being withdrawn from school by those with parental responsibility • being prevented from attending extra-curricular activities • being prevented from going onto further/higher education • sudden changes in appearance or behaviour (especially young girls changing their dress code dramatically to adopt culturally/religiously appropriate clothing) 4.435 Health concerns: • self-harm • attempted suicide • depression • eating disorders • accompanied to doctors or clinics and prevented from speaking to health practitioners in confidence • experience of female genital mutilation (FGM) 4.436 Police concerns: • reports of domestic abuse, harassment or breaches of the peace at the family home • threats to kill and attempts to kill or harm the potential victim or another family member (emotional blackmail) • truancy or persistent absence from school 4.437 Approach. Direct engagement with the family is not advised, as it may aggravate and expedite the risk of a child being taken abroad for a marriage. It is always advisable to contact a specialist organisation or community advisor for support. 4.438 Practitioners involved in this work should have sufficient training and supervision to support application of the required knowledge and skills. Scottish Government national guidance is under revision (2021). Resources and References – Honour-based abuse and forced marriage