Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694500475802.pdf (Australia)
Australian Government Department of Social Services Liz Hefren-Webb Deputy Secretary Dr Sean Turner Committee Secretary Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee PO Box 6100 Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 Dear Dr Turner Submission to Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Reference Committee Inquiry into the practice of dowry and the incidence of dowry abuse in Australia Thank you for the invitation to make a submission to the inquiry into the practice of dowry and the incidence of dowry abuse in Australia referred to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Reference Committee (the Committee) on 26 June 2018.
The Department of Social Services (the Department) is focused on improving the wellbeing of individuals and families in Australian communities through providing quality policy advice and effective program design and management.

Relevant to this inquiry, the Department provides a number of programs and services that can assist people experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence and/or people settling in Australia.
This includes: • Provision of information and resources for migrants and refugees settling in Australia.

• The Support for Trafficked People Program, providing assistance to victims of • human trafficking and modern slavery, including forced marriage.

Initiatives under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 (the National Plan), and the Women 's Safety Package.
The Department recognises that dowry abuse may be part of a person's domestic and family violence experience or impact on their settlement in Australia, however does not specifically target programs or services to addressing this particular form of abuse.

Rather, initiatives aim to reduce domestic, fam ily or sexual violence, focus on primary prevention, support gender equality and human rights, improve the wellbeing of migrants and foster a culture of respect across all Australian commun ities.
Feedback from service providers, including during the National Plan Fourth Action Plan consultations, indicates that due to the sensitive and cultural nature of dowry abuse, it is GPO Box 9820 Canberra ACT 2601 Email Eli7.abeth.hcfren-webb@, dss.gov.au • Telephone 1300 653 227 National Relay Service: TTY: 133 677, Speak and listen : 1300 555 727, Internet relay: www.relayservice.com.au www.dss.gov.au The practice of dowry and the incidence of dowry abuse in AustraliaSubmission 71 unlikely to be the identified reason why a person seeks assistance.
Instead, a person may seek support because of financial strain, forms of physical, sexual or emotional violence, or because they have been forced into marriage.

This means that data on the prevalence of dowry abuse in Australia is extremely limited.

Settlement Services Humanitarian entrants are provided with information on Australian Law in relation to marriage in orientation training both before and after their arrival in Australia.
The Australian Cultural Orientation (AUSCO) Program is provided to Refugee and Special Humanitarian Program entrants over the age of five years old prior to their departure for Australia.

AUSCO gives practical advice about Australian Law, including that: forcing anybody to get married is a serious crime in Australia; • • a person must agree to the marriage without being forced or tricked; • an arranged marriage, where both people freely consent to get married, is different to a forced marriage.
Arranged marriages are legal in Australia; it is illegal to take or send someone to another country for forced marriage or get someone else to organise this; • • giving dowries is not a customary practice in Australia; and • there are culturally sensitive services in Australia that can help.

Where relevant, AUSCO trainers also create group discussions on dowries and discuss the topic through a session on 'Unacceptable vs acceptable practices in Australia '.
Following arrival in Australia, further orientation is provided on Australian Law, including key outcomes that: • participants are aware all people are equal under the law in Australia; • participants are aware of the basic freedoms that underpin Australian law; • participants know what constitutes domestic violence and child abuse under Australian Law; • participants know the rights of women and children in Australia; • participants know the role of police and legal services; and • participants can contact police and legal services if needed .
Australian Law with regard to cultural practices (such as forced marriage) is listed as indicative content under the Australian Law topic.

The Department has also developed a Family Safety Pack for people coming to Australia.

The pack includes information about Australia's laws regarding domestic and family violence, sexual assault and forced marriage, including messaging that women have the same rights as men.
The pack includes four factsheets about domestic and family violence, sexual assault, forced and early marriage, and family violence and partner visas, and one low-literacy domestic and family violence storyboard.

The pack has been translated into 46 community languages and is available online Other Australian Government resources available in a number of languages for people settling in Australia include the Beginning a Life in Australia booklet and the Life in Australia booklet.
These resources include information about Australia's laws, way of life and values.

2 The practice of dowry and the incidence of dowry abuse in AustraliaSubmission 71 Support for victims/survivors of forced marriage In some cases of early or forced marriage, dowry abuse may also be a factor, however the occurrence of this in Australia is unknown.
Since forced marriage was criminalised in Australia in 2013, victims/survivors, or those at risk of forced marriage, referred by the Australian Federal Police have been eligible to receive support through the Support for Trafficked People Program.

The number of forced marriage clients receiving assistance through the Support Program has steadily increased over time, however it is unknown how many of these clients may have been impacted by dowry abuse as part of their experience.
Training for frontline worke_rs Many frontline workers may not recognise dowry abuse as the reason for presentation at a service if the person seeking assistance does not articulate this directly or where the focus is on immediate needs such as safety and wellbeing.
In 2018-19, Lifeline Australia will research and develop new specialised DV-alert training to build the knowledge and capacity of frontline workers to effectively recognise , respond and appropriately refer people experiencing, or at risk of, complex forms of domestic and family violence.

Specifically, this training will address forced marriage, female genital mutilation, dowry abuse and human trafficking/slavery (domestic servitude).
DV-alert provides training and awareness programs nationally to help health, allied health and community frontline workers recognise and respond to domestic and family violence and refer people to the most appropriate support services.

DV-alert is a free, nationally accredited training package and has been delivered by Lifeline Australia since 2007.
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities The National Plan recognises the diversity of needs of women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALO) communities and provides scope to tailor responses based on individual needs.

Data on prevalence of domestic, family and sexual violence within CALO communities is very limited, and specifically in relation to dowry abuse is unknown.
During consultations for the development of the Fourth Action Plan of the National Plan, the Department consulted with individuals and organisations that represent or work with people of diverse backgrounds, and a small number of sessions specifically focused on complex forms of violence and CALO communities.

These stakeholders expressed views about how dowry abuse could be considered within the broader context of domestic and family violence.
Under the Third Action Plan of the National Plan, a number of projects aim to reduce violence against women from CALO backgrounds.

These include: • 18 CALO Communities Leading Prevention projects.

These projects support communities to develop and implement locally-led solutions for changes in community awareness, attitudes and behaviours.
3 The practice of dowry and the incidence of dowry abuse in AustraliaSubmission 71 • Leadership training for young people from CALD backgrounds to support them drive attitudinal change.

• Eight projects to help women from CALD backgrounds living in regional areas experiencing domestic and family violence or sexual assault to access support by addressing barriers to accessing services.
• Support to develop and implement a national strategy for CALD new and impending fathers to recognise their important role as fathers and partners and support them with access to services.

• Further research to understand the experience of violence for CALD women and their children.

• The Three Es to Freedom project aiming to build capacity to empower CALD women through an intensive education and employment program.
• White Ribbon Australia projects to increase engagement with CALO and Indigenous communities.

• AMES Australia projects seeking to build the capacity of CALO women and young men to lead strategies to prevent violence against women and their children, raise CALD community awareness, increase action on issues pertaining · to violence against women and their children and promote gender equity to prevent violence.

The Department is happy to provide additional information if the Committee requires .
Yours sincerely WHefren-Webb Deputy Secretary j ~ October 2018 4 The practice of dowry and the incidence of dowry abuse in AustraliaSubmission 71