An Illawarra film-maker has found her latest project quite the learning experience.
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Sandra Pires of Why Documentaries has joined forces with CORE Community Services to raise awareness of forced marriage in Australia and highlight support services available via three short films.
“Just a generation ago there were people in Australia that were marrying at 15 or 16-years-of-age and that was quite normal. That’s now considered a child marriage – under the age of consent in our laws it is now considered a forced marriage,” Pires said.
“Referrals [to the Australian Federal Police] have come from all religious groups ... there are even fundamental Christians that have been referred.
“There’s so many different reasons as to why there is a forced marriage everything from increasing social status to financial, to fear of the child being too westernised.”
The #choicenotforce campaign wants young people to know that they have a choice in who they get to marry, being forced to marry is illegal and there are support services available.
The practice became illegal in Australia five years ago, with 174 referrals received by the AFP since then.
Mostly women under age 18 are affected, with relatives or people close to them allegedly organising marriages without their free and full consent.
More information can be found at www.mybluesky.org.au