From Struggle to Success: Sasha’s Journey to Pursuing Her Dreams
Sasha’s* journey into adulthood was not what she expected growing up in Sydney. Sasha arrived in Australia as a young child and enjoyed being surrounded by her community. She never imagined that her future would be at risk until her parents pressured her to marry her cousin. Sasha had big dreams for herself. She knew that such a marriage would limit her potential. After much thought, Sasha made the brave decision to break free from her family’s expectations and pursue the life she had always envisioned.
When Sasha* first came to The Freedom Hub, she felt overwhelmed by uncertainty. Due to her journey, she struggled with depression and thoughts of suicide. Her family’s harmful rumours about her ‘purity’ made her feel unsafe. So for some time, she couldn’t see a way forward. However, things began to change when Sasha* started attending Survivor School outings.
These outings gave her friends. Peer support is vital for survivor connections and growth. They brought her moments of joy and clarity. As a result, these helped her begin to define her next steps. She found the courage to enrol in Survivor School classes. The ICT class became a key support for Sasha, who had limited access to technology due to her family’s strict control.
With the unwavering support of The Freedom Hub team, Sasha* successfully navigated the TAFE enrolment process.
SHE IS NOW STUDYING A CERTIFICATE IN COOKERY!!!
She dreams of opening her own restaurant one day and is excited to receive tutoring to improve her understanding of assessment questions and how to approach them. We are incredibly proud of Sasha* and thrilled to support her as she continues to follow this exciting path.
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Victim-survivors of Forced Marriage
Forced marriage is a serious human rights violation that primarily affects women and girls.
In 2021, approximately 22 million people worldwide were living in forced marriages, with women and girls accounting for two-thirds of the victims.
This issue is not limited to other countries; it is the most common form of modern slavery reported to Australian authorities. In fact, the Australian Federal Police recorded 84 cases of forced marriage in 2021-22.
However, these figures likely represent only a small portion of the true scale of the problem. According to Anti-Slavery Australia, it is estimated that only 1 in 5 victims of modern slavery are identified within Australia.
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Challenges in Definition
Current legal definitions of forced marriage often focus on a single moment in time as the key point of legal significance.
For instance, under section 270.7A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), the act of entering the marriage is seen as the critical moment, on which subsequent offences in section 270.7B are based.
However, forced marriage is more accurately described as “a process rather than an event.” It can involve a range of coercive and controlling behaviours, with threats or pressure that lead a person to enter a marriage often beginning long before the marriage itself.
To better inform policymakers, a deeper understanding of forced marriage is needed. One that recognises the behaviours surrounding it and views forced marriage as an ongoing process rather than a singular event.