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Forced marriage; counseling
Women and girls threatened or affected by forced marriage can seek advice.
Responsible for you
Landratsamt Würzburg
Street address
Zeppelinstraße 15
97074 Würzburg
Postal address
97067 Würzburg
Phone
Website
Opening hours
Standort im BayernAtlas
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Timetable for public transport
Procedure details
Description
According to German law and German values, marriage is based on the free will of both spouses; it is therefore an expression of the free development of the personality, which is protected by Article 2 Paragraph 1 in conjunction with Article 1 of the Basic Law. in conjunction with Article 1 of the Basic Law.
If the bride, groom or both spouses are forced to marry, this is referred to as a forced marriage. Most of those affected are women and girls. It is often relatives who force their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews to marry.
Forced marriage is illegal in Germany and has been punishable under Section 237 of the German Criminal Code since July 1, 2011. Anyone who forces another person to enter into a marriage is punished with a prison sentence of between 6 months and 5 years. The victim of a forced marriage is not liable to prosecution.
Special advice and protection services for women who are threatened or affected by forced marriage are offered by the specialist advice centers JADWIGA run by STOP dem Frauenhandel ökumenische gGmbH and the specialist advice centers of SOLWODI Bayern e.V..
In addition, the anonymous shelter "Scheherazade hilft" offers safe accommodation for young women between the ages of 18 and 21. This can be reached 24 hours a day on the free telephone number 0800/41 51 616.
Since March 2013, there has also been a nationwide help hotline for violence against women, which is also available free of charge 24 hours a day on 08000 116 016.
Requirements
They are affected or threatened by forced marriage.
Proceedings
Contact an advice center or the youth welfare office. You will receive advice and support there and be informed about your legal options. The services also include psychosocial support and support in crisis situations.
In emergencies or if you are acutely threatened by violence, contact the police.
Fees
none
Special notes
If you were forced to marry outside Germany and prevented from returning to Germany, you may be able to claim your own right of return. You must apply for a residence permit within three months of the cessation of the coercion, but no later than five years after leaving the country. In this case, you can also obtain the residence permit if you are unable to secure your own livelihood in Germany.
If, as a victim of forced marriage, you have already lived in Germany for at least eight years and attended school for at least six years, your residence permit, which is still valid, will not expire during a stay abroad until three months after the situation of coercion has ceased, or at the latest after ten years of absence from Germany.
If you wish to have a marriage annulled that was concluded under duress, contact the family court in whose district you and your husband or wife have your habitual residence. The application period for annulment of marriage has been extended from one to three years after the marriage in the case of forced marriages.
Related links
Related issues
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Residence permit; general information
Non-EU nationals can be issued and extended a residence permit for various residence purposes (e.g. employment, study, au pair, family reunification).
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Children and young people; taken into care by the youth welfare office
Is the welfare of a child or young person at risk? If you have any indications of this, you can contact the responsible youth welfare office.
Status: 05.05.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Familie, Arbeit und Soziales
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