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Post date: May 9, 2012 2:58:15 AM
Jerry Guirguis interview Gabrielle Fakhri, a Cultural consultant, with responsibilities as a project case worker in human rights for the newly arrived refugee and migrant women to Australia, Gabrielle will be talking to us Live-to-air via phone hook-up at 96.5FM – Egyptian radio show [ Monday 29th June 2015, Melbourne Australia, English Edition, 6:30pm ].
6:30pm – Our special guests tonight is Gabrielle Fakri, talking to us about Forced Marriage.
Gabrielle Fakhri
Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights
Tel: (03) 9481 3000
www.ausmuslimwomenscentre.org.au
Hi and welcome, can we start with ......................
What is forced marriage?
Forced marriage on the other hand occurs when a man or women is forced by the family to marry, using threats, emotional blackmail and even bribes. Forced marriage is illegal in Australia. If an arranged or even forced marriage involves a girl or boy under the age of 18 years of age then it can be considered child abuse and can attract a severe penalty under criminal law in
Australia for the parents or people who are doing this.
Forced child marriage can also involve being made to stay home from school, forced to work, or being isolated and controlled in other ways. All of these actions are crimes in Australia. Some parents may even trick their children into going overseas where they will be forced into getting married.
What is the new law around early and forced marriage?
In February 2013 the Government passed legislation to specifically criminalise early and forced marriage. The forced marriage offences carry a maximum penalty of four years’ imprisonment or seven years’ imprisonment for an aggravated offence.
The crime of forced marriage can apply to not just legally recognised marriages but to cultural and religious ceremonies as well as registered relationships.
How common is early and forced marriage around the world and in Australia?
Early and forced marriage (EFM) affects millions of girls worldwide. Marriage of this kind is not limited to any particular cultural group, religion, ethnicity or region, tough it is more commonly practised in certain cultural groups than in others. It is a common opinion that EFM is a problem primarily among Muslim communities. However, while it is practised to varying degrees among the Muslim community, it is also common in many other traditionally patriarchal societies.
Boys and girls both may be affected, but the overwhelming majority of those impacted are girls. For girls the implications of suck marriages are far greater and more severe because of their gender, pregnancy and child birth, which can significantly affect their health, wellbeing and status.
Some reported statistics are :
· There are almost 70 million child and adolescent girls married today
· At least 14 million girls marry under the age of 18 every year
· 1 in every 5 girls in the developing world is married before reaching the age of 18.
Here in Australia, while there is no reliable statistics currently on this issue, there have been cases, of EFM based on a number of recent high profile family law cases and many cases based on anecdotal data from discussions among academic, government and community groups.
What we do know is that
· there have been cases of girls being taken overseas for marriage (through pressure, deception or force)
· Girls have reported to teachers, counsellors and in rare cases, the police that their families have plans to force them to marry in Australia or overseas.
· Spouses may be brought from overseas through forced marriages
· There are cases of children under the age of 18 in Australia undergoing a cultural or religious marriage that takes place outside the provisions of the law (Marriage Act 1961)
· In 2011 it was reported that more than 200 17year old girls were brought to Australia under the prospective spouse visa program between 2006 and 2011.
What does the law say about EFM?
In February 2013, legislation was passed to specifically outlaw early and forced marriage.
There are a lot of new amendments to this law but some of the new legislation includes it being an offence to cause a person to enter into a forced marriage and being a party to a forced marriage. What this means is that parents of a girl or boy who is forced into marriage can now be prosecuted and even jailed and the Imam, Minister, Priest, or Marriage Celebrant who performs the ceremony knowing it is a forced marriage can also be prosecuted.
This includes not only marriages here in Australia but when a girl (or boy) is sent overseas and forced to get married.
This is a lot of information available on this subject and the new legislation is being taken very seriously by the government, the Australian Federal Police and community agencies.
If you need any further information on this issue please contact Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights on (03) 9481 3000.
Marriage In Australia, including early and forced marriage.
Everyone in Australia is free to choose if, who and when they marry. Forcing somebody to get married is a crime under Australian law and an abuse of human rights.
In Australia there are some legal requirements before getting married.
What are the legal requirements before married in Australia?
These include: not being married to someone else, understanding what marriage means and not being forced into a marriage.
There is also a minimum age at which men and women can marry and that is 18 years of age. Marriage to someone who is under 18 in Australia is illegal. There is a very limited exception in the law for a person aged 16 or 17 to marry, but only if firstly there is agreement by the parents and in some cases a Law Court carefully examines the situation and makes an order allowing this to happen.
Under Australian law, children and young people under the age of 18 cannot agree to marriage. This is because child marriage denies children and young people their basic rights and can subject them to physical, sexual, emotional and psychological harm.
Arranged marriages are the cultural norm for many Muslims and non-Muslims across the world. This is usually set up by family members and if both partners are over 18 years of age when they get marriage and they both agree to the marriage then this is perfectly acceptable and legal in Australia.
Jerry Guirguis
Presenter
96.5FM - Egyptian radio show
0400 718 817
https://sites.google.com/site/jerryguirguis
studio : 03 9457 1718
CD copy of this interview can be requested by email to: [ Jerry.Guirguis@gmail.com ]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 7th April 2014 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jerry Guirguis interview Gabrielle Fakhri, live to air from our 96.5FM studio – Egyptian radio show [ Monday 7th Apr 2014, Melbourne ]
6:15pm – Our 1st special guest tonight is Gabrielle Fakhri, talking to us about Role of Fathers.
Gabrielle Fakhri
Cultural Consultant and Trainer
131 Clarendon Street,
Thornbury, Vic 3071
Australia
• Australian Muslim Women centre for Human rights [ AMWCHR ] is a non religious organisation working with Muslim women for a very long time.
• provides Individual casework services to newly arrived Muslim women .
• running the parenting programs in Melbourne and in Shepparton area with focus on Parenting in Australia, discipline in children , effective communication and School system in Australia.
Hi & Welcome …….,
can we start with ......................
Q1] Why are we focusing on fathers?
Both parents fathers and mothers have a role in child raring. However culturally and also with communities, who we are working with, still there are lots more expectations from mothers for children disciplining and well being. Whenever we are running our parenting programs mothers are requesting us to have these sessions with fathers also. Most of them are finding it hard to parent without fathers help.
Q2] How father’s involvement can be positive for children?
As we all know that in new culture and in new country ,it’s very difficult for us to understand the rules and culture. Also without fathers help mothers can’t do any magic to
provide their children the best discipline and vice versa.
We are also very aware of that most of the fathers are working very long hours to provide their family their basic needs. Also it get very tiring after work to help or get involved with children but children do need both parents.
Research shows that children with involved and caring fathers have better educational outcome and also father’s involvement impact on children Social and emotional well being which helps children to emotionally handle the situations better in life.
Q3] What role fathers’ can play for parenting?
Positive Relationship with Mothers
If father has good relationship with their wife children get psyclogical and emotionally healthier.
If children see father and other respecting each other and resolving their conflicts in more appropriate manners. Children will learn these skills to solve their conflict respectfully and especially boys will learn how to treat women and solve the issues in less aggressive manner.
Things to remember :
• Both parents should try to solve their problems more constructively.
• Conflict is not a bad thing but depends how we are solving it.
Q4] How can Father’s spend time with Children ?
Fathers need to consider spending time with their children playing having fun activities such as: Football, basketball, Library, watching Tv together etc.
It makes their relationship get stronger as well as children’s social development, emotional well being and physical fitness get better.
Also household activities such as :
• washing dishes together,
• Vacuuming
• cleaning up lawn etc
It makes children feel important and improve their self esteem which impact on their academic and social engagement.
Q5] Why is it important for fathers to be friendly with children?
If both parents but if fathers are sharing their own experiences children feels they can share lots of their issues with parents.
Children will learn to share their fears and hopes with parents.
Q6] How can father be a good Role Model?
Following are the examples how our children are watching us all the time and learn the skills:
Driving Car: If we are swearing getting angry, speeding etc children will feel these things are normal. It’s important and make sure you are informing your children about road rules and consequences of not obeying it such as seat belt and safety, speeding and accidents, speeding and car fines….etc etc
Respect the community: If children will see us respecting our own community members and out side community than they will learn to respect also. Some times we parents talk about our biases about other communities in home and children learn that and take that to School.
In Schools there are very strong anti racism policies are in place so we need to teach our children to respect every one regardless of their religion, culture and skin colour etc.
If we will teach our children to respect themselves others than socially they will be more acceptable.
Acknowledge mistakes: If as a parent we will say sorry to our children on any bad behaviour/ losing temper etc, they will respect us more not less. Also they will learn to acknowledge our mistakes is an appropriate thing.
Where to go for help?
Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Right : 94813000
Your Child teacher
Maternal and child health Parent line : 132289
Men Helpline 1300789978
Jerry Guirguis
Presenter
96.5FM – Egyptian radio show
0400 718 817
studio : 03 9457 1718
CD copy of this interview can be requested by email to: [ Jerry.Guirguis@gmail.com ]
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Jerry Guirguis interview Gabrielle Fakhri, Live-to-air from the studio of 96.5FM – Egyptian radio program [ Monday 25th Nov 2013, Melbourne-Australia ].
6:15pm – Our 1st special guest tonight is Gabrielle Fakhri, Cultural Consultant and Trainer, talking about Domestic Violence,
Women have the right to live free from fear and violence. Domestic violence is a crime.
Many women are subjected to violence and abuse from their husbands, partners and in some cases other family members.
One in five women will be affected by family violence at some time during their life. Women from all walks of life, from every ethnicity and religion experience violence and abuse from people they know and love. Yet the problem is often overlooked, excused or denied. This is especially true when the abuse is psychological rather than physical. Noticing and acknowledging the sign of an abusive relationship is the first step to ending it. No one should live in fear of the person they love.
Jerry Guirguis interview Mrs. Gabrielle Fakhri on 96.5FM – Egyptian radio show [ Monday 7th May 2012 ] .
6:15pm – Our 1st special guest tonight is Gabrielle Fakhri, a Cultural consultant, with responsibilities as a project case worker in human rights for the newly arrived refugee and migrant women to Australia.
With over 30 years experience working with asylum seekers and refugees Mrs. Fakhri, a cultural trainer, her professional services include, conducting helpful directions for women groups all around Victoria, these sessions have been run & facilitated for service providers and various Arabic organisations.
There’s a lot we’ll be covering tonight with Mrs. Fakhri, one pressing & urgent concern, has been about these newly settled wives in Australia, with family & domestic violence and are too afraid to call for help, their think, they will not be allowed to remain to stay and live freely in Australia.
Gabrielle Fakhri
Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights
Tel: (03) 9481 3000
www.ausmuslimwomenscentre.org.au
mob: 0413 764 468
Jerry Guirguis
Presenter
96.5FM – Egyptian radio show
0400 718 817
You can request a CD copy of the complete interview by email to [ JerryGuirguis@bigpond.com ]
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