Civil Protection from Forced Marriges in the UK

Law Society Gazzette has a story today about the implementation of The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 in the UK on November 25th. Yep, on the same day as the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women!

From the article:

The act will insert a new part 4A into the Family Law Act (FLA) 1996 to create a Forced Marriage Protection Order (FMPO).

Some of the powers the Order gives the courts include:

• prevention of a forced marriage from occurring;
• stopping intimidation and violence;
• revealing the whereabouts of a person;
• stopping someone from being taken abroad; and
  
• preventing contact.

The full act can be read here.

More information about IDEVAW can be read here and the official resolution can be read here (PDF).