{"id":41347,"date":"2020-09-07T16:36:05","date_gmt":"2020-09-07T06:36:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.smooth.com.au\/?p=41347"},"modified":"2020-09-08T23:51:38","modified_gmt":"2020-09-08T13:51:38","slug":"confronting-the-horrific-reality-for-australias-victims-of-forced-marriage-and-how-we-can-stop-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.smooth.com.au\/news\/confronting-the-horrific-reality-for-australias-victims-of-forced-marriage-and-how-we-can-stop-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Confronting The Horrific Reality For Australia\u2019s Victims Of Forced Marriage And How We Can Stop It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In episode seven of Invisible Heroes<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Madeleine West interviews Detective Sergeant Trevor Russell about his career around uncovering forced underage marriages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While at university, Trevor Russell originally wanted to be an economist. So how did he end up investigating forced child marriages for the Australian Federal Police?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In part two of this exploration of Australia\u2019s victim-based crimes, an exclusive with the Australian Federal Police, Det Sgt Trevor Russell takes us deep into what it\u2019s like investigating forced child marriage in Australia. Plus how he manages the heavy emotional toll of his work after he clocks off and heads home to his family and friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA 2004 parliamentary enquiry found that it\u2019s estimated between 300 and a thousand women are trafficked here annually and worldwide that figure is somewhere between 4 and 27 million,\u201d Madeleine says as she begins her interview.<\/em><\/p>

\u201cEighty per cent are women, 50 per cent are minors and we\u2019re looking at a profit of about $10 billion per year on human trafficking. It\u2019s happening here in Australia, what does it look like in Australia and what areas are you finding are most common in Australia?\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Sgt Russell says nowhere in the world is immune from human trafficking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is a hugely under-reported crime type and that\u2019s one of the key things that we\u2019re trying to address and this is where platforms like this are helpful to get the message out there that for those that are victims of human trafficking there are avenues for them to get support.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Reports of human trafficking in Australia are increasing each year with the largest areas of reports in forced marriage. So, how are we as Australians not more aware of this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUntil I started working in human trafficking itself I wasn\u2019t aware of the scale of the issue,\u201d Sgt Russell admits.<\/em><\/p>

\u201cI wasn\u2019t aware of how prevalent the offences are and that\u2019s around our messaging and the education that we can provide to the community and we work really hard both from an AFP perspective and also with our key partners, our social services groups, our charity groups, corporations even, we have been engaging in some private companies as well to put the message out there.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

But the key stumbling block, Sgt Russell says, is ensuring people are aware of the issue from a community perspective and looking for the signs because not all victims are willing or are in a position to come forward themselves.  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to ensuring the community is aware, Sgt Russell says the AFP works on giving the victims knowledge that there are avenues for them to come forward:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean you have to pop into a federal police headquarters in any of our cities to make a report, there are other avenues. <\/em><\/p>

\u201cWhether it be <\/em>online <\/em><\/a>or through your local police station, whether it\u2019s through our other partners. <\/em><\/p>

\u201cSome of the first interactions people have may be through Australian Border Force or with a charity partner, with a church group, with a NGO but just getting the message out there that they are able to get some support and what that support looks like because you can\u2019t help but put yourself in the situation of these people wanting to come and talk to a complete stranger about your incredibly personal and challenging situation, that\u2019s a real struggle.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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In the heartbreaking Invisible Heroes <\/em>episode, host Madeleine West struggles to hold back her emotion when thinking about the children who feel trapped in these horrific situations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEspecially for a child who the people who they trust – their parents – are advocating, are doing this even if it feels wrong and goes against everything that they might culturally understand and to be, what it is to be an Australian what rights they have as an Australian,\u201d <\/em>Madeleine says holding back tears.<\/p>

\u201cSorry, I\u2019m quite emotional just talking about this even considering it.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Sgt Russell explains how some of the \u201cgreatest results\u201d have been instances where school counsellors have reached out to the AFP after noticing troubling signs in students: <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why a lot of our initial contact can come from school counsellors. <\/em><\/p>

\u201cSome of the greatest results we have had with early intervention have been through school counsellors reaching out and saying, \u2018I\u2019ve noticed this particular student has had some troubling behavioural signs\u2019, and we talk there about the key indicators of human trafficking or forced marriage or whatever it might be.<\/em><\/p>

\u201cFrom there we can offer to come and speak to the young person at the school and give them some options with the school counsellor present so it\u2019s still daunting but at least they have someone they trust there as well,\u201d Sgt. Russell says.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

If you are a victim of trafficking\/forced marriage or know someone who is\/might be, contact the AFP on 131AFP (131237) or email AOCC-Client-Liaison@afp.gov.au <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To hear more about Sgt Russell\u2019s career and the human trafficking issue in Australia listen to Invisible Heroes<\/em><\/a> <\/em>on your favourite streaming platform \u2013 Apple Podcasts<\/a>, Spotify<\/a>, Google Podcasts<\/a>  \u2013 or have a listen to the latest episode below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n