Forced and Servile Marriage in the Context of Human Trafficking

Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) Report

The Crimes Amendment Legislation (Slavery, Slavery-like Conditions and People Trafficking) Act 2013 has made forced marriage a crime under Australian law.  A forced marriage is defined as a marriage that is not freely and fully consented to because of the use of coercion, threat or deception.  In Australia there is a lack of data about the frequency of forced marriages.  However the AIC has undertaken research directed at understanding the role of marriage and partner migration in the trafficking of persons.  In March 2013 they released a Research in Practice document entitled Forced and servile marriage in the context of human trafficking.  Download a copy of the document here.