Men bringing wives to Australia just to abuse and enslave them
WOMEN are being lured to Adelaide from overseas only to be enslaved, assaulted, intimidated and threatened by their husbands, the Legal Commission of South Australia warns.
WOMEN are being lured to Adelaide from overseas only to be enslaved, assaulted, intimidated and threatened by their husbands, the Legal Commission of South Australia warns.
The commission has told an inquiry into the practice of dowries and “dowry abuse” that the practice of a wife’s family giving a groom presents could lead to abuse.
Some cultures practise a “bride price” instead, where the groom and his family pay money for a bride.
Both circumstances can mean a woman is seen as property, which in turn can lead to violence and murder.
Dowry has been made illegal in many countries including India because of that link.
The submission shows a surge in cries for help from women from Sudan, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent — which includes Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka — over the past five years. For example, there were 83 cases of women from the Indian subcontinent needing a lawyer in the last financial year, compared to 43 the year before that, and none for the previous three years.
In abuse cases, the commission says, the groom or his family demand more money from the wife’s family. That extortion can escalate to virtual imprisonment, reducing women to domestic helpers and denying them access to money. Clients have told the commission they were left suicidal because of the “shame, humiliation and stigma”.
The men have power over the women because their Australian residency makes them “valuable” and they can threaten not to sponsor the woman to get hers.
The commission has started a 10-week campaign in 25 languages aimed at vulnerable migrant women who are at risk of domestic violence, including dowry abuse.
“Domestic violence can be where a partner or a family member makes you feel hurt, scared, alone or afraid. There is no shame in seeking help,” the messages say. It points women towards the free Legal Aid Helpline on 1300 366 424. The commission wants to see “dowry-related abuse and similarly harmful cultural practices” explicitly included in family violence law.
The Federal Government acknowledges dowry-related abuse, and says it is committed to improving legal protections to anyone affected by violence and abuse. Its submission points to existing laws that offer some protection.
If you need help, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). If you are in danger, call 000.