Child marriage, forced marriage and honour-based control
Marriage is not freely chosen when a girl or woman faces threats, confinement, document control, emotional punishment or violence for refusing.
In this guide
What this can look like
Control may be framed as protection, culture, honour or concern about relationships, sexuality, caste, religion or family reputation.
- A marriage is arranged while a girl is below 18 or she is removed from school to prepare for it.
- Phone, documents, money or movement are controlled after she refuses a match or chooses a partner.
- Threats target her, her partner, siblings or supporters; travel or a ceremony is planned without informed agreement.
Why this is harmful
- Early and forced marriage can end education, increase economic dependence and expose a girl or woman to pregnancy and domestic abuse.
- Honour-based pressure can involve several relatives and make ordinary escape plans unsafe.
Prevention and legal options
Under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, a female below 18 is a child; the Act provides prevention, injunction and specified remedies and penalties.
Confinement, threats, assault, abduction or other acts connected to a forced marriage may engage separate criminal law.
The status of a marriage and deadlines for remedies are fact-specific. Seek urgent legal help rather than assuming a ceremony is automatically void in every case.
Safer next steps
Choose only what fits the situation. Safety, time, money, disability, family control and device monitoring can change what is possible.
Treat planned movement as a safety signal
If travel or a ceremony is imminent, contact 1098 for a child or 112 for immediate danger from a safer device.
Secure identity and contact
Memorise one number and, if safe, keep copies of age, school and identity records with a trusted person.
Use a coordinated plan
A school, child-protection unit, legal service or specialist organisation may need to plan around multiple people, travel and retaliation.
How to support someone
Do not inform the family or proposed spouse without a safety assessment.
What can help
- Ask what deadlines, travel or surveillance exist.
- Help her contact child protection, emergency or legal services safely.
What to avoid
- Do not organise an unplanned private confrontation.
- Do not treat consent to an arranged introduction as consent to marriage.
Words you can use
“You have the right to say what you want.”
“Who can contact you without putting you at risk?”
What families and institutions must do
Schools and colleges
Schools and colleges
- Notice unexplained withdrawal, sudden marriage plans and travel risk.
- Use a safeguarding route without alerting possible perpetrators first.
Government and public bodies
Child-protection and district authorities
- Coordinate prevention and safe accommodation where law and circumstances allow.
- Keep the girl's wishes, education and long-term safety central.
Get help and practical support
Call Child Helpline 1098
For a child in crisis or needing protection and connection to longer-term care.
24 hours through state and district child-protection systems
Call 112
For immediate danger, urgent police, fire or medical coordination.
Pan-India emergency service
A call or app request may share your number, voice and location with responders.
Call legal-aid helpline 15100
Women and children are listed among people eligible for free legal services.
Eligibility does not guarantee a particular lawyer, remedy or result.
Sources and publication record
- Publication review
- Reviewed and approved by the project team
- Sources checked
- Jurisdiction
- India
- Review record
- Reviewed and approved by the project team. Official statutes and service sources are listed with the relevant content.
- Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006India Code, Legislative Department
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012India Code, Legislative Department
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023India Code, Legislative Department
- Child Helpline 1098Ministry of Women and Child Development
- Emergency Response Support System 112Ministry of Home Affairs
- Free legal services and National Legal Aid Helpline 15100National Legal Services Authority