Dowry abuse or ‘abuse to demand or receive a dowry, either before or after a marriage’ will soon be illegal in Victoria.
The Victorian Parliament has passed the Family Violence Protection and Other Matters Bill 2018 on Tuesday which includes, amongst other measures, redefining the meaning of family violence to include “using coercion, threats, physical abuse or emotional or psychological abuse to demand or receive a dowry, either before or after a marriage.”
The bill will now go to the Governor for royal assent.
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, has called this a huge victory for the victims of dowry abuse in the state.
Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence Protection and Other Matters) Act 2018. Source: SBS
“The bill has passed the Parliament and by December, it should become a law. Women will then be able to go to the police and report if they are emotionally or physically being abused, criticised, coerced for dowry,” she told SBS Hindi.
Ms O’Connor says it will mean that no one can demand dowry.
“Nobody one can demand cash, gifts from their bride. This epidemic affects women not just from India but the entire Indian subcontinent and some African countries,” she said.
Source: Pixaby(Creative commons)
“Dowry abuse in Australia”
While Victoria has become the first state in Australia to include dowry abuse as part of family violence, the Australian government, in June this year, announced a probe into the extent of dowry abuse in Australia which affects many migrant communities.
The inquiry is accepting submissions until 17th August and will focus on 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. It will report its findings by 6th December 2018.
The Inquiry follows several reports of domestic violence, including murder and rape, associated with the practice of dowry in Australia.
“Women are not property; cultural or religious practices that suggest so are not welcome in Australia," says Labor MP Julian Hill, who called for the inquiry into what he called 'this alarming' practice.
"Dowry perpetuates a culture of ownership of women, which runs against the cause of equality," he said.
Illegal in India
The practice of 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 National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800 737 732, or visit 1800respect.org.au
