LONDON, May 8: The UK government has offered the survivors of forced marriage help to start a new life with the launch here on Tuesday of a new support network.

A booklet has also been issued which outlines instructions for the victims of forced marriages and their survivors.

The UK government’s forced marriage unit deals with around 5,000 inquiries and helps rescue up to 300 women, children and men who are trapped in an abusive, forced marriages every year.

A survivors’ network is also being launched in partnership with Karma Nirvana, a forced marriage NGO, which will provide long term emotional support.

Foreign Office Minister Lord Triesman said that the government was launching a two-year strategy to combat forced marriage.

Two girls, both Muslim and one Shazia from Pakistan and the other a 17-year old in Hijab later narrated their respective ordeals to the media.

Shazia talking to Dawn said she was forced into marriage to her first cousin in Pakistan and that she spent extremely harrowing days following the marriage and at times wanted to commit suicide.