Anti-dowry campaigners have welcomed the announcement of a Senate inquiry into dowry abuse in Australia.
Dr Manjula O’Connor, Director of the Australasian Centre for Human Rights and Health, who has worked closely with victims of dowry abuse within the Indian community said this is a great initiative as it means every state can now tell the government how rampant the problem is across Australia.
Dr O'Connor who campaigned to bring the anti-dowry legislation in Victoria said, "Every state, not just Victoria where it will soon be a law, will now be able to put their submissions in. We are aware of a lot of dowry abuse cases in Brisbane, Adelaide, NSW and even Perth."
The Australian government, on Tuesday, announced it will probe the extent of dowry abuse in Australia which affects many migrant communities in the country.
Source: Getty Images
This Senate Inquiry follows several reports of domestic violence, including murder and rape, associated with the practice of dowry in Australia.
Labor MP Julian Hill, who called for the inquiry into this ‘alarming’ practice said, “This is not a benign, esoteric issue. Dowry extortion has been recognised as a direct cause of family violence and horrific murders and suicides. The alarming growth in reports has been seen in certain communities.”
“Women and families who don't comply with these dowry demands face abuse and abandonment by husbands and deportation if on temporary visas and loss of Medicare and access to services,” the Victorian MP told Parliament in May.
On Wednesday, Mr Hill said the inquiry will look at links of dowry abuse and Australia's family law and migration systems, family violence, forced marriage, modern-day slavery and mental health outcomes for affected women.
Member for Bruce, Julian Hill in Melbourne, November 22, 2017. Source: AAP
“Women are not property; cultural or religious practices that suggest so are not welcome in Australia.
"Dowry perpetuates a culture of ownership of women, which runs against the cause of equality."
“Pleased the Senate has listened and acted,” he said.
Submissions will open in July and a final report will be submitted back to the Senate on December 6th, 2018.
Dr O’Connor has urged the victims of dowry abuse to come forward and make a submission.
Source: Insight
“In my experience, I have found the majority of the domestic violence cases are related to dowry abuse. The percentage which was as high as 75% of the cases has considerably gone down to 30% after we campaigned for a legislation and the Victorian government announced it will bring a law to ban dowry,” Dr O’Connor told SBS Hindi.
“This national level inquiry is our chance to highlight how dowry abuse has affected us. I urge the victims of dowry abuse to make a submission. I urge men to speak up. For those who say, these cases are fake, I urge them to speak up too and prove this is fake,” she said.
Dr O’Connor feels this inquiry has provided Australian government with an opportunity to be a world leader on this issue.
“Dowry abuse is rampant among migrant communities especially from the subcontinent and not just India. The practice has travelled to all parts of the world. The issue is rampant in the UK, US. Australia’s initiative against dowry will have a global impact,” she said.
Dowry has been illegal in India since 1961 however; India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) states that in 2015, as many as 7,634 women died in the country due to dowry harassment. Either they were burnt alive or forced to commit suicide over dowry demand.
For help or information regarding domestic violence, call the Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800 737 732, or visit 1800respect.org.au
