Daily Lessons from Life 10 August 2013 - Britain issues alert for rise in forced marriages during school holidays

"Britain issues alert for rise in forced marriages during school holidays - AFP Aug 10, 2013 LONDON - The British government on Saturday warned teachers, doctors and airport staff to be on alert for a rise in forced marriages over the school summer holidays. Summer marks a peak in reports of young people - mainly girls - being taken abroad on "holiday", not knowing their families are forcing them into a marriage, the Interior Ministry said. Britain's Forced Marriage Unit dealt with some 1,500 cases last year, a third of them involving children aged under 17. In nearly half the cases, the victims were taken to Pakistan. "The rise in forced marriage reports over the school holidays is shocking," said Crime Prevention Minister Jeremy Browne. "Teenagers expecting their GCSE or A-level (exam) results should be embarking on a bright future, not condemned to a marriage with someone they have never met and do not want to marry. "My message to young people who feel they are at risk is, please come forward - you do not have to suffer in silence, there is help available and it can be stopped." The Forced Marriage Unit is handing out cards this summer providing information for potential victims, telling them to speak to the police or airline staff if they believe they are being taken to be married against their will. But the opposition Labour party said the warning might have been more helpful if it was issued before schools broke up for the holidays. The Forced Marriage Unit said the victims it had dealt with last year were taken to 60 countries, including Bangladesh (11 per cent), India (8 per cent) and Afghanistan (2.1 per cent). In 18 per cent of cases, the victim was male. The government announced plans last year to introduce new laws for England and Wales that would see parents sent to jail if they force their children into a marriage." It is a very uniquely English issue. Having to protect the children from their own parents or elders. I wonder if Singapore government will ever have to come to this with the exploding immigration numbers. Lessons for me are: 1. home country vs. host country - which culture SHOULD prevail? Seems rather clear cut to me - host country. Since nobody invited you to come to the host country and you WANTED to come, you simply has to follow the host country's culture if you plan to be here on a permanent basis!; 2. host countries' dilemma - what about acceptance of diversity? what about the big melting pot theory? The true is: diversity is great if it does not collide with the fundamental values of the host country. True diversity is really about extracting the BEST from ALL worlds, ALL views using an agreed selection criteria. If the host countries' folks give enough debates to it and come to a certain agreement, that principles simply have to be followed and honoured. Hiding behind the reason that this will stifled or kill diversity is simply not helpful!; 3. will Singapore face such an issue and the government taking such a step to protect the children from the new Singaporeans? Maybe it is peculiar, for this child marriage issue, to certain countries and, hence, easier to isolate and handle. What about bigger issues of 'free loading grandparents - 2 sets of each new Singaporean'? conflict of interests of 'having to serve National Service for new MALE Singaporeans below 30 years old?', etc. There are already tensions. The government is taking actions to defuse it. More need to be done. Maybe we never have to come to the state where Singapore simple say, as Host Country, you simply has to follow Singapore's values and way of life with 'no exception'?