Forced Marriage

Forced marriage

Are your patients at risk? Professor Jennifer Burn shares what health professionals can do to identify and assist patients experiencing forced marriage.

Forced marriage exists in Australia today. While it is significantly underreported, it is Australia’s most reported form of modern slavery, and is devastating in its impact. Health professionals are trusted and respected professionals who have a unique opportunity to identify and support people affected by forced marriage.

What is forced marriage?

Forced marriage is a human rights abuse, a form of family violence, and a form of modern slavery. It occurs when a person enters into a marriage without freely and fully consenting because of the use of coercion, threat or deception. Forced marriage most commonly affects young women and girls, but can also affect men and boys, and people of all ages. It can happen to anyone regardless of disability, nationality, cultural background, religion, or residency status. 

A forced marriage is fundamentally different to an arranged marriage. The key point is consent: in an arranged marriage, prospective marriage partners might be introduced through family, but they always have the option to say no to the arrangement without fear of negative consequences.

The ones forcing marriages are generally family members and/or community. While there is no ‘typical’ forced marriage, research suggests that it is more frequently seen in communities characterised by social conservatism, a commitment to tradition, and strict rules around behaviour.¹ Many of those who force others into marriage were forced into marriages themselves. 

Forced marriage can have a disastrous impact on happiness, health, independence and opportunities of those affected – even for those who manage to avoid, stop or leave a marriage. It is for this reason that prevention is key, and that we must do more to detect and support those affected. While these are not generalisable to all experiences of forced marriage, some specific indicators of forced marriage include:

• Siblings or family members have themselves experienced a forced marriage

• If under 18 years old and wearing an engagement ring, and/or there is the sudden announcement of their engagement

• A person expressing fear, anxiety or distress about an engagement or marriage (or appearing fearful, anxious, or distressed)

• An upcoming family trip that appears to cause fear, anxiety, or distress

• Failure to return from an overseas trip

• A person expressing that they don’t believe that they have the final choice over who they marry

The unique role of health professionals

Health professionals may be one of the only outside points of contact for someone at risk, in a critical window of time. In the lead up to a forced marriage, and in the period after, a person’s movements outside of the home may be significantly restricted and monitored. An appointment in a medical practice often remains one of the interactions with the outside world still accessible to those affected. 

If you encounter someone that you believe could be at risk, listen without passing judgement, provide them with information, and refer them to specialist services as needed. Let them know that they do not have to go through this alone. 

This year, Anti-Slavery Australia at UTS will be releasing community-facing resources, including a wallet-sized foldaway business card with forced marriage referral options and a poster raising awareness of human rights around marriage that is translated into 18 community languages. Displaying one of these in a waiting room or office can have a profound educational impact. You can request these from us, for free, https://bit.ly/Speak-Now-Resources-Request and find more information about forced marriage at My Blue Sky. 

The Guide

When a healthcare professional encounters forced marriage, it can be a daunting and challenging experience. This is why we have developed the Frontline Worker Guide, which provides a foundational knowledge of forced marriage in Australia, as well as practical advice and tools for helping those affected. You can access the Frontline Worker Guide at https://mybluesky.org.au/frontline-worker-guide

We have also launched a free e-learning course, ‘Modern Slavery in the Home’, to educate frontline workers on the types of slavery that take place in domestic settings. You can enrol here:  https://bit.ly/frontline_worker_course.

Referrals to My Blue Sky 

Phone: 02 9514 8115

Website: mybluesky.org.au

My Blue Sky is Australia’s national forced marriage service, providing free and confidential legal advice to those who may be affected by forced marriage, as well as advising those who are supporting them. If you suspect that someone may be at risk, or is already experiencing forced marriage, we welcome and encourage you to reach out to discuss the situation. In highly time-sensitive situations, such as someone being shortly taken overseas for the purposes of a forced marriage, we recommend contacting the Australian Federal Police (131 237). In cases of imminent danger, call Triple Zero (000).

Conclusion

Health professionals can provide a lifeline to someone going through what is typically a lonely, frightening and sometimes tragic experience. It is critically important to prevent forced marriages where we can, as well as helping those who are experiencing it to access support and to start again.

Contributed by Professor Jennifer Burn, Founding Director of Anti-Slavery Australia

References

¹ Samantha Lyneham and Samantha Bricknell, Australian Institute of Criminology, When saying no is not an option: Forced marriage in Australia and New Zealand (2018).