Slavery in
the 21st century
Statement by: Narina Anwar MBE
Action for Modern Rights, UK
Agenda item 3: Forced Marriage
A Personal Statement
I am a 24-year-old student living in the South of England with
my two sisters. In the year 2000 after intense pressure from my
parents we decided to go to Pakistan to visit relatives. I suspected
the purpose of our trip would be marriage and took hidden money
and contact numbers for the British High Commission in case we
needed help. On our arrival in Pakistan I realised how remote
the village was where we were going to stay. Two weeks into our
trip it was made clear that we could not return to England unless
my sister and I got married. We realised then that we were alone
and had to make contact with someone for help. At first we tried
to send a letter to a foreign student whom we knew lived in Pakistan.
Although we waited for weeks for a reply this letter had been
intercepted by our relatives. Our plans to escape the situation
were discovered and it was made clear to us that using the weapons
at my uncle’s house anybody who came to rescue us would
be shot! My sisters and I were also threatened that if we tried
to escape, for the sake of family honour, we would be killed.
Therefore making an escape from the village was really our last
resort.
Months went by as we tried other letters to the British High
Commission and we were unsuccessful in all attempts to contact
someone for help. Each time we were caught we lost hope, over
and over again, because we thought that we would never be rescued.
I became ill suffering from depression and insomnia. Everyday
we received emotional torment from our mother and relatives, to
the point where my mother tried to shoot herself in order to pressure
us further. The month of Ramadan came and we were told that there
was no time left and that we had to get married after a couple
of weeks. During this time we prayed, in order to gather courage
to escape from the village. We had tried everything else in our
power. I was never going to give up and was ready to die trying
to escape.
After six months we found the opportunity to escape whilst most
of our relatives and the people from the village went to a funeral.
We could not leave behind our younger sister – who was only
fourteen at the time – because she would have suffered due
to our actions against the family. I packed what few belongings
we had left the night before. Being as cautious as possible and
making sure nobody was around we left the house. On leaving we
wrapped our shawls over our faces and I grabbed the backpack.
This was the point of no return as we rushed through the village
to the nearest main road. With difficulty we managed to get transport
to Lahore where we contacted the British High Commission in Islamabad.
On contact with the Commission a hotel was arranged and we were
collected from an Internet club, which we had used to make the
phone call.
After being moved around in safe hotels, money was organised
by friends for us and the British High Commission tricked my relatives
into returning our passports. A week after escaping we flew back
to Britain. A social worker found a refuge in which we stayed
for six months until we got housed. I was made the legal guardian
for my younger sister and the three of us live together. In addition
we now have regular contact with our parents. My parents did not
understand our point of view at the time but have now accepted
our independence.
On my return from Pakistan I began to talk to the British media
about our experience. I was invited to a conference in the North
of England at which I spoke about what had happened. From then,
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office asked me to work with them
to help other victims of forced marriage. As well as being a full
time student I still talk at public conferences for a variety
of organisations and to the media to help raise awareness on the
issues surrounding forced marriages. My main aim is to encourage
victims to stand up for themselves and to let them know that there
is help available. I have had direct contact with many victims,
which gives me the opportunity to give them moral support. Due
to my work since the beginning of 2001 I was recently made an
MBE. I was given this honour by her Majesty the Queen for my services
to victims of forced marriage.
Forced marriage is a global issue and not specific to any community.
We have to remember to help those also in places where there is
nowhere to run. It is important to emphasise a person’s
right to choose their marriage partner and it is imperative that
governments take steps to help combat such intense suppression
and violation of Human Rights.
Thank you.
