High levels of violence when children and women are forced into marriage

Many girls and women subjected to child or forced marriages in Sweden already live in environments where violence and control are widespread. These restrictions and demands often begin long before the marriage takes place and continue afterward.

"In many cases, child and forced marriages have already occurred within the family or extended relatives. Professionals need to ask questions about the family situation and be aware that this increases the risk of children and young people being subjected to these practices," says Matilda Eriksson, analyst at the Swedish Gender Equality Agency and one of the report’s authors.

Violence continues within the marriage. Girls and women also struggle to leave due to threats of violence, financial abuse, and violence against their children. While threats often come from the husband, they can also originate from the woman’s own family or the husband’s relatives.

Difficulties in Mapping the Scale of the Issue

Between 2014 and 2021, there were 556 registered marriages in which at least one spouse was under 18 at the time of the wedding. Since 2014, the number of police reports concerning forced marriage has varied between 28 and 118 per year. Reports of child marriage offences have ranged between 46 and 87 per year since 2021. However, these cases represent only a small fraction of the actual occurrence.

"It is difficult to measure the extent of child and forced marriages in Sweden, partly because many victims are too afraid to report them. However, we can conclude that this is a very serious form of vulnerability," says Mikael Thörn, Head of Unit at the Swedish Gender Equality Agency.

The study also examined polygamy and temporary religious marriages arranged for sexual exploitation. Both appear to be less common.

"This may partly be because this type of exploitation is not widely recognised by authorities and professionals. It is crucial that more people ask questions to increase detection. In the cases of polygamy we identified, all involved men with multiple wives," says Matilda Eriksson.

Greater Knowledge and Early Intervention Are Needed

To combat child and forced marriages, polygamy, and related forms of abuse, the report provides several recommendations for continued efforts. One key aspect is ensuring that interventions take place earlier, based on identified risk factors. To achieve this, authorities need to establish procedures for asking the right questions and referring individuals to appropriate support services.

Ongoing information and dialogue about rights, responsibilities, laws, and available support must also be provided across a range of sectors, including schools, youth services, social services, healthcare, and employment programmes.

"It is important not to have a simplistic view of how victims behave. We must understand that they act within the context they are in, and often see no other option. If we become better at breaking these patterns early, we can prevent a great deal of suffering," says Matilda Eriksson.

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