Educating for the Elimination of Forced Marriage
Partner | Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH)
Location | Australia
Overview
This project aims to combat human trafficking, specifically in the form of forced marriage, by implementing education and prevention strategies that uphold the human rights of all people and provide support to those impacted.
Project partner ACRATH is a leading organisation in the fight against human trafficking, and through this project, they provide awareness training for key groups particularly vulnerable to forced marriage. School communities, faith-based groups, frontline healthcare staff and youth workers receive the training so that they are well-equipped to identify and respond to potential victims and survivors of forced marriage.
Challenges
ACRATH finds that many young women and girls face forced marriage without knowing it is illegal in Australia. When discovering it is a crime, they may be unsure of how to exercise their legal rights and frequently face homelessness and social isolation as a result. Leaders of communities are often unaware of the legislation, reporting procedures and available support.
Impact
Over a six-month period, awareness training is delivered to at least 25 school communities and healthcare settings, impacting hundreds of staff, youth workers and thousands of Australian school students. The training addresses the specific issue of forced marriage, the human rights of all people concerning marriage, the support available to people facing forced marriage, and the illegality of forced marriage in Australia.
Activities
This project provides for the employment of an educator who is trained and experienced in forced marriage. Specifically, this trained educator:
- Provides professional development for school staff and ongoing support to assist them in introducing this topic of study into the school curriculum.
- Supports staff to confidently deliver the curriculum materials, using the resource kit ‘My Rights – My Future: forced marriage.’
- Assists school wellbeing staff to become familiar with reporting procedures regarding issues with individual students.
- Ensures that identified or suspected forced marriages of students are referred to appropriate authorities.
- Provides training adapted to frontline healthcare staff and youth workers in various settings so they are well-equipped to identify and respond to potential victims and survivors of forced marriage.
