What is forced marriage?
A forced marriage is when a person gets married without freely and fully consenting.
A person does not freely and fully consent if:
They are coerced, threatened or deceived into getting married
OR
They do not understand the nature and effect of the marriage ceremony. This means they do not understand they are getting married, for example, because of an intellectual disability.
A forced marriage is also any marriage involving a person under 16 years old.
It does not matter if the person consented or not. This is because, in Australia, a person under 16 is not seen as able to consent or able to understand the nature and effect of a marriage ceremony.
What is the law on forced marriage in Australia?
Forced marriage has been illegal in Australia since 2013. It is a crime to force someone to get married or to be involved in organising a forced marriage. This law is found in Division 270 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995.
If a person is found guilty of forced marriage, they could go to prison for:
Up to 7 years.
Up to 9 years in more serious cases – for example, where the victim is a child or has a disability.
Up to 25 years if they help to take a child out of Australia for a forced marriage.
What types of marriage are covered?
Australia's forced marriage law covers:
Marriages that take place in Australia
Marriages that take place overseas, if they are organised by an Australian citizen or permanent resident
Religious, cultural and customary marriages
Registered relationships
Marriages that are not recognised by Australian law, like polygamous marriages and marriages between siblings
Marriages and relationships recognised by the laws of other countries
Who is affected by forced marriage?
Forced marriage can happen to anyone from any background. It most commonly happens to young women and girls, but people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultures and religions can be forced into a marriage.
Why do forced marriages happen?
There are many reasons why a forced marriage may happen. A person might be forced to marry as a way to:
Control how they act and who they are in a relationship with
Protect their family’s honour
Maintain cultural or religious traditions
Strengthen family ties
Bring them or their family more money or life opportunities
Make sure they have someone to take care of them
Help their spouse or their family come to Australia
Hide a pregnancy or sexual assault
What are the impacts of forced marriage?
People who have been forced to marry, or are being forced to marry, can face many challenges and issues. Often, these impacts can be serious and long-lasting. These include:
Psychological trauma
Physical, emotional and sexual abuse
Loss of freedom and control over their lives
Loss of education and work opportunities
Being exploited in the home (e.g. forced to do all the housework)
Health issues (e.g. forced and early pregnancy)
Forced marriage can also damage important family relationships and community connections. Everyone – including the friends, family and community of the person in a forced marriage – can often experience loss and grief.