Forced Marriage - A Survivor’s Story

“My wedding day should have been the happiest day of my life but all I could do was cry.  I didn’t want to go through with it but felt I had no choice, my family would disown me.  I just felt no-one cared about what I thought or what I felt.  Why should I be forced to live with someone I didn’t even like, let alone love? I left my whole life in the UK behind.  What was the point of even living anymore?

 

After I tried to take my own life the first thing I thought about was the shame I had brought on my family.  The same family who had driven me to this.  I knew then that I had to stand on my own two feet.  I still love my family but it was time to put myself first.  I decided to speak to the Forced Marriage Unit.  It was such a relief to be able to talk to someone who was on my side without any judgement and without the fear they would tell my family.  For the first time, I realised I had the right to choose.  With their help, my confidence grew.

 

Sometimes I get upset about what happened to me but now I know I made the right decision to leave and live my own life.  I wake up each day looking forward to it and I get excited about the future and meeting someone I want to be with.”

Page last updated July 2020