How Wonderful It Would Be

British Prime Minister David Cameron went on record this week to say, "Forced marriage is little more than slavery. To force someone into marriage is completely wrong." Truer words could not be spoken.
Cameron announced he was making it a criminal offence to breach an order issued by the courts to prevent a forced marriage and is asking Home Secretary Theresa May to consult on making the practice an offence in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Earlier this year, the cross-party Commons Home Affairs Committee had called for forced marriage to be criminalised, but the Home Office rejected the recommendation in case it discouraged victims from coming forward. Cameron addressed that issue, saying, "... as a first step, I am announcing today that we will criminalise the breach of Forced Marriage Prevention Orders. It's ridiculous that an Order made to stop a forced marriage isn't enforced with the full rigour of the criminal law. And I am also asking the Home Secretary to consult on making forcing someone to marry an offence in its own right, working closely with those who provide support to women forced into marriage to make sure that such a step would not prevent or hinder them from reporting what has happened to them."
It should be noted here that I am not discussing the practice of arranged marriages. When someone's parents select a prospective spouse, so long as the intended bride or groom is given the final say on whether or not they accept the choice, arranged marriage does not rob an individual of their rights. It is not a problem. What is a problem is a marriage that is forced on someone whether they want it or not. Relatives who try to claim they were acting in the "best interests" of their child need a crash course in the concept of personal freedom and rights.
Forced marriages occur here in Canada, (details here) as well as in the UK and many other parts of the world, but perhaps most especially in the western world, the occurrence generally takes place under society's radar. Those perpetrating this form of violence -for violence it is -are usually quite aware that what they are doing is wrong. They know that if authorities became aware of the despicable deed, they would be stopped. This abhorrent act is not a part of any particular culture. It is, quite simply, an abuse of control and power that needs to be stopped.
Kudos to David Cameron, and to everyone that supports his measures. Canada needs to follow his lead, as does every other country, worldwide. How wonderful that would be.