Essential Support for Victims/Survivors
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND WILL BE UPDATED SOON
For a list of support organisations, visit our page here
There are many support services that can assist victim/survivors of forced marriage. Different services have differing support abilities. This page reviews what is available and the changes that may be needed to improve the services.
Many victims/survivors who have sought help have been able to rebuild their lives after escaping their forced marriage or/and child marriage. You can watch some of them speak to NCFM about their experience and use of services on Our Videos here
Refuge
Refuges can be important safe spaces for victims of domestic abuse and forced marriage and to protect people.
You can listen to the Director of the Ashiana Refuge talk about the importance of refuges and why they need more support and funding to protect victims/survivors here
Counselling
Victims/Survivors have often been through traumatic experiences that they need to discuss with professionals to help with their recovery and being able to continue with their lives.
NCFM has heard from victim/survivors who speak about the importance of counselling for processing their experiences and the need for understanding what they had been through. Counselling needs to be specific to the victim. For example, for women who have been abused by men, having a male counsellor could exasperate their experience. Additionally, the nature of the patriarchal system of some communities means that the victims/survivors are not comfortable being open in their experiences with men.
Interpreter Services
Some people forced into a marriage cannot speak English or English is not their first language. To be able to receive the support that they need, they may therefore need interpreter services to be able to access other support services.
