Forced Marriages as a Security Threat

Namen: Članek predstavlja analizo prisilnih porok v kontekstu varnostnega ogrožanja Združenega kraljestva, s poudarkom na primeru Velike Britanije, na naslednjih kazalnikih: kakšne so pojavne oblike prisilnih porok, kakšen je njihov namen ter s kakšnimi mehanizmi in instrumenti sta država in družba odgovorili na ta problem. Članek se osredotoča tudi na prisilne poroke kot del trgovine z ljudmi in kot nacionalnovarnostni problem. Metode: Uporabljene so metode analize in interpretacije primarnih in sekundarnih virov (zakonodaja, znanstveni in poljudni članki, poročila) ter deskriptivna in zgodovinska metoda. Ugotovitve: Problematika prisilnih porok je relevantna za varnostno politiko Združenega kraljestva, saj ogroža varnost na več ravneh (posameznik, država, svet). Britanci so zato ustanovili specializirane državne institucije ter spremenili zakonodajo. Analiza je pokazala, da večino primerov prisilnih porok predstavljajo prisilne poroke iz etnično-kulturnega vzroka. V zadnjem času pa narašča število primerov medetničnih prisilnih porok, katerih osnovni namen je kršenje migracijske zakonodaje. Predstavljen je tudi aktualen širši družbeni odziv, viden predvsem v ustanovitvi nevladnih organizacij, ki poudarjajo problematiko ter pomagajo tako žrtvam kot tudi državnim institucijam. Omejitve/uporabnost raziskave: Prispevek je omejen zaradi uporabe maloštevilnih (tujih) virov, vseeno pa predstavlja izhodišče za nadaljnje preučevanje. Izvirnost/pomembnost prispevka: O prisilnih porokah v slovenski strokovni in znanstveni literaturi ni veliko napisanega, zato članek predstavlja boljši vpogled v to tematiko (na primeru druge države) in razmislek o domačih razmerah. Purpose: The paper deals with the analysis of forced marriages as a security threat to the United Kingdom. The focus is on the Great Britain and on the following indicators: what are the types of forced marriages, their intentions, and what are the mechanisms and tools of the state and society to combat this phenomenon. The paper also explains forced marriages as a human trafficking problem and as national-security problem. Design/Methods/Approach: The paper is based on the analysis and interpretation of primary (legislature) and secondary sources (scientific and journalistic works) as well on descriptive and historical methods. Findings: The paper shows that the issue related to forced marriages is relevant to the security policy of the United Kingdom, as forced marriages represent security threat on several levels (individual, state, world). As result of this, several specialized state institutions were formed, and the legislature was changed. An analysis also reveals that ethnic-culture based forced marriages make most of the cases, but in recent time there is a rise in cases of intra-ethnic marriages with the goal of violating the migration law. There is also focus on actual wider-societal response to this problem, showed by the formation of non-governmental organizations, working on this problem. Research Limitations / Implications: The paper has a limitation due to restriction of the available sources on this subject, but nevertheless forms a basis for future research. Originality/Value: Slovenian scientific corpus on forced marriages is small and this article contributes to expand it by offering an alternative view (from another country) on the subject and self-reflection on domestic matters.