Dowry is an outdated custom which I believe should be made illegal in the UK. It is still very dominant in South Asian Communities. This “custom” has lead to verbal, emotional and physical abuse against women and their families. Given how a lot of South Asian communities like to keep their affairs extremely private; therefore out of shame we tend not to report or raise awareness relating to Dowry as it is deemed a taboo subject in our culture. 

“In 2014 Police launched their first-ever investigation into “dowry violence” in Britain, after The Independent discovered evidence that hundreds of women a year are being burnt, scalped, imprisoned or otherwise abused in their homes over financial disputes with their in-laws.

Campaigners called upon police and government departments to begin compiling official figures on what has been described as the “widespread and underground abuse of thousands of women”.

Charities that work with women in affected communities have recorded thousands of such cases in Britain and say these are “only the tip of the iceberg” – but not a single police force in the UK keeps data on dowry violence”. 

We are now in 2020 and this situation is not improving; in fact I believe it is getting worse. 

By making Dowry illegal in the UK we are giving people a voice, whom are being suppressed under this age old custom. Families are falling into debt, being subjected to abuse, falling victim to mental health. All because there are no laws that can protect them against the wrongful act of Dowry demands. 

When will this issue be taken seriously and addressed? How many more women and their families will be subjected to the oppression that dowry brings?