The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have charged three men in Perth with the alleged forced marriage of two teenage children. This marks the first time the AFP has laid charges for this crime in Western Australia.
The accused – two relatives of the boy and one relative of the girl – appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on 26 July 2024. Each faces one count of causing a person to enter into a forced marriage in circumstances of aggravation, contrary to sections 270.7B(1) and 270.8 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). The case has been adjourned until August 2024.
The maximum penalty for this offence is nine years’ imprisonment.
Police allege that the teenagers, aged between 13 and 15 and 17 respectively, wanted to date each other but were compelled to marry for cultural reasons by their relatives. The men allegedly facilitated the marriage in a religious ceremony last year (2023).
AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Chwal explained that a forced marriage occurs when a person marries without freely and fully consenting, due to coercion, threats, deception, or incapacity to understand the marriage ceremony due to age or mental capacity.
“The legal age for marriage in Australia is 18; and while a child aged 16 to 18 can obtain permission from a court to marry, the person they wed must be an adult,” said Det-Supt Chwal.
He highlighted the complexity of forced marriage cases, noting that they often involve family members as both victims and perpetrators. The AFP prioritises the wellbeing and safety of victims.
“Our key focus is to disrupt and prevent this crime by raising awareness of Australian laws, recognising the warning signs of forced marriage, and providing support to victims,” he stated.
Det-Supt Chwal urged victims to seek help from various services and agencies if they are uncomfortable speaking directly to the police.
“Forced marriage is not limited to any cultural group, religion, or ethnicity. Anyone can be a victim, regardless of their age, gender, or sexual orientation,” he added.
Forced marriage has been illegal in Australia since 2013. This law applies to legally recognised marriages, cultural or religious ceremonies, and marriages occurring both within Australia and abroad. It also covers the conduct of those facilitating forced marriages.
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