Submission to the forced marriage consultation 2024
This is our submission in response to the Enhancing Civil Protections and Remedies for Forced Marriage Consultation Paper (referred to hereafter as the Consultation Paper) (Commonwealth of Australia, 2024). This submission is founded upon research that suggests the major opportunity we have as a nation is: to rethink the forced marriage policy and legal framework.
In this submission we provide responses to the consultation questions based on two principles:
- The importance of rigorous and independent research.
- The necessity of transparent and available data regarding existing practice.
We draw on our research and other credible evidence to provide informed responses. We begin first, by noting our concern that in Australia there has been significant funding over the past decade to respond to the issue of forced marriage, but this has not produced evidence that provides a strong foundation for analysis and evidence-based responses to the consultation.