Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act (Craven Pandering to the Conservative Base and Anti-Muslim Sentiment Act) controversial for more than its title
2014/12/10 1 Comment
The risks of a simplistic bumper sticker approach to complex family dynamics, not to mention existing laws that can be used:
“Prevention, not prohibition,” exhorted Deepa Mattoo, Acting Executive Director of the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario.
Mattoo argued that there is existing law that can be applied to forced marriage situations such as assault, kidnapping and duress statutes and that instead of jumping the gun on criminalizing forced marriage, more research and education needs to be done.
Mattoo said there exists some protection that young women can take advantage of, but public education is lacking. For example if a young woman contacts the clinic because she suspects that her family vacation may lead to a forced marriage, she can contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Development so she can be monitored.
The other issue to keep in mind is that this law deals with young women, who are under the protection of their parents.
She said in her experience women who come forward seeking help don’t necessarily want to have to go to court against their parents. Eighty per cent of her clients reunite with their families in some way.
“They do not want their families to be criminalized,” said Mattoo.
Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act controversial for more than its title (pay wall)
About Andrew
Multicultural Meanderings 
I do agree with the writer from the South Asian Legal Clinic: this seems to be another case of creating laws for enforcement when we do already have some available, and not enough effort directed towards prevention and education around the problem. In our own history of colonization, many cultural practices of our own Native people were made illegal. In our arrogance, we thought we knew best so destroyed their health, education, religion, language and family structure: we should be learning from that. Abuse of persons is not, of course, acceptable but it would be best if resources could be allocated to prevention before the protection becomes necessary.