PUBLIC COMMENT SOUGHT ON FORCED AND SERVILE MARRIAGE REFORMS

ATTORNEY-GENERAL 

HON ROBERT McCLELLAND MP

MINISTER FOR JUSTICE

HON BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP 

22 November 2010

PUBLIC COMMENT SOUGHT ON FORCED AND SERVILE MARRIAGE REFORMS

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and the Minister for Justice, Brendan O’Connor, today invited the public to comment on whether stronger measures are needed to address the practice of forced or servile marriage.

“The Government is committed to ensuring there are laws in place to protect individuals who have been forced into a marriage and to punish those responsible,” Mr McClelland said.

“Servile or forced marriage generally refers to situations in which a person is considered a chattel that can be sold, transferred or inherited into marriage.

“It is a crime that can cause significant damage to a victim.”

The Government is inviting comment on a discussion paper outlining a range of possible legislative and non-legislative measures that could be implemented, including:

• new specific offences targeting those who force another person into marriage,  profit from trafficking individuals into a marriage, or coerce or use threats to bring about a marriage;
• the use of civil remedies, such as protection orders, which can be used by a Court to protect victims and people at risk of forced or servile marriage; and
• public education, professional training, and community engagement strategies.

 The discussion paper has been released ahead of the National Roundtable on People Trafficking which will be held on 24 November 2010.

The Roundtable brings together peak non-government organisations and industry bodies along with key government agencies, to discuss these issues and consider how the Government can best respond to this problem and address the needs of victims.

“The practice of forced or servile marriage is completely unacceptable,” Mr O’Connor said.

“It takes away a person’s freedom and autonomy and makes that person vulnerable to further terrible abuses within that marriage.”

The public has until 4 February 2011 to provide comments on the discussion paper which can be obtained on the Attorney-General’s Department website at www.ag.gov.au/forcedandservilemarriage.

Media Contacts:

Ryan Liddell               0427 225 763  Attorney-General

Jayne Stinson              02 6277 7290  Minister for Home Affairs and Justice