In its long-awaited final report, the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs into dowry abuse has made 12 recommendations but has strongly ruled out against the formation of a specific law to criminalise the practice.
One of the inquiry's key findings is the recommendation that the term 'economic abuse' be included as a form of family violence under the existing Family Law Act 1975.
Melbourne-based psychiatrist Dr Manjula O’Connor who has been spearheading the campaign against dowry abuse in Australia told SBS Punjabi that she felt an “extreme sense of relief that the federal government now recognises dowry as a national problem”.
“Whilst the law is only targeting the abuse associated with dowry, over time, I do hope that this will open the pathway towards changing the custom that is dowry which is, in essence, reducing the value of the bride to the price of dowry.”
Dr Manjula O'Connor, Anti-dowry Campaigner Source: White Ribbon Australia
Dr O’Connor told SBS Punjabi that the reason the Senate committee moved away from criminalising dowry was that it became increasingly difficult to define dowry.
“Dowry is essentially gifts that are given in the context of marriage but the only problem is that the dowry is oversized gifts, they are very substantial that is out of proportion to the annual income of the family. And this definition could not be quantified properly.”
On the other hand Muktesh Chibber, an experienced family counsellor based in Melbourne, who in her submission to the inquiry had strongly advocated that the existing Australian law is enough to deal with any financial abuse in marriage says she is "relieved" that the Senate has considered her viewpoint.
Muktesh Chibber, Couple and Family Therapist Source: Facebook
“I was relieved to hear that the inquiry has been able to uphold the integrity of the existing Australian Family Violence Act because criminalisation would have been a very strong way to go. It would have victimised a lot of innocent persons,” said Ms Chibber.
“But I also feel that the root of this social evil is basically overseas and so I could never understand the benefit of having legal consequences for something in Australia when clearly its roots are overseas.”
In a special message to the community, Ms Chibber said the best way to prevent the abuse is to discourage young people from marrying into families that display greed or make financial demands.
“When you come across a family that shows a streak of greediness, we need to be responsible towards ourselves and say ‘hey, I need to stop this!’ And the only way I can do that is by questioning ‘do I really want to be a part of this kind of family? Because once you fulfil their demands, they’re not going to stop,” she added.
Meanwhile, a female victim of dowry abuse who wishes to remain anonymous said she isn’t fully content with the recommendations, but is at the least “happy that the discussion around it has been initiated and is moving in the right direction.”
A dowry abuse victim who shared her story with SBS. Source: SBS
“Thank God! At this point am happy that when women like me who have suffered dowry abuse will approach the police for help, they wouldn’t have to explain to them what dowry really is,” she said.
“I am now waiting for the day when dowry abuse will be banned like it is in India.”
Whilst Akash* who too claims to be a victim of reverse dowry abuse told SBS Punjabi that it is “heartening to see that the Senate inquiry has gone to great lengths to record the evidence submitted by both men and women.”
A male victim of 'reverse' dowry abuse shares his reaction on the Senate inquiry's recommendations Source: Shutterstock
“My gratitude to all the Men's right activists, victims of biased laws for bringing forth their suffering and traumas , friends in media for spreading the same to wider audience and gratefulness to Senate committee to look into and take it into account while finalizing the recommendations,” Akash said.
“This saves a lot of families from being destroyed by biased laws and also ensures that the recommendations are based on facts and are gender neutral.”
