The latest figures on forced marriages from the Australian Federal Police-led (AFP) Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) show a 30% increase in reporting. And the AFP say school communities can play a vital role in helping identify and protect vulnerable children and stopping forced child marriages.
“it could be happening in your neighborhood”
Forced marriage involves coercion, threats, and/or deceit. It also happens when a person cannot truly consent because they are too young or do not have the mental capacity to understand what marriage means. It’s a crime many people assume doesn’t happen in their country. AFP commander Helen Schneider said that’s certainly what most in Australia think.
Contrariwise, Schneider stated in a recent SBS article:
…it can, and it does — it could be happening in your neighborhood and your street. And, with potential victims often being school-aged, this makes school communities — from educators and parents through to fellow students — a key partner in awareness.
Indeed, the latest data on force marriages in Australia reveal reports of the crime jumped from 91 in 2023-24 to 118 in 2024-25. And while the figures don’t necessarily mean instances are up, it does mean more should be done to stop it. Schneider pointed out that forced child marriage is an especially complex issue. Particularly because in many cases both victims and perpetrators are in the same family. That can make young people fearful or reluctant to seek help.
School communities on the front line
The data highlights why it is so critical for Australian school communities to understand their role on the front line of defense. They are uniquely placed to spot warning signs.
Schneider shared:
Because educators interact with their students day in and day out, they get to know them at a fundamental level and build up an authentic picture of their personalities.
Warning signs for educators to watch for are limited independence or privacy, constant monitoring by a family member, concerns about upcoming overseas travel, or sudden changes in domestic circumstances. Teachers and the wider school community know their students, and this gives them a leg up in noticing when things aren’t right.
Scheider highlighted:
This uniquely positions them to identify any changes in behavior that could seem incredibly subtle to an outsider but may actually indicate a school-aged child is at risk of forced marriage.”
While most reported victims are young women and girls, anyone could be affected. Regardless of gender, religion or ethnicity, forced marriage affects everyone. And it can also still be true of legally recognized marriages, cultural or religious ceremonies, and marriages conducted overseas. Helping to tackle the very real risk of forced marriage isn’t just a job for law enforcement alone. That’s why AFP is trying to raise awareness about the issue across Australia.
Help end the global scourge of forced marriage
Freedom United applauds the AFP in trying to enlist the help of the community to identify the signs. But tragically forced marriage, particularly forced child marriage is a global issue, not just an Australian one. Forced marriage is a form of modern slavery because it strips a person of their freedom and autonomy, often trapping them in situations of domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, reproductive coercion and long-term abuse. Once isolated from family, education and financial independence, many survivors face enormous barriers to escape. That’s why we are campaigning to end this egregious child rights violation that robs millions of their childhoods. Substituting instead a life of misery and hardship. Sign our petition and add your voice to the call.
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