'
Stranded abroad: the women and children who are entangled in the exit trading crisis of Australia
International

Stranded abroad: the women and children who are entangled in the exit trading crisis of Australia

author
6 minutes, 14 seconds Read

Key Points
  • Leaving human trafficking includes sending a person abroad with a plan to prevent their return to Australia.
  • Although they were Australian citizens, Fatima and her children were stranded abroad due to such circumstances.
  • According to the Australian federal police, there are cases where partners are prevented from returning.
This article contains disturbing content.
Fatima (not a real name) and her children born in Australia were stranded abroad after her former husband reportedly refused to give permission to renew the passports of their children.
“I can’t believe all this happened to me … He left us in Pakistan and refused to allow the renewal of the passports of my children,” she told SBS Urdu.
“When I sought help from the Australian High Commission, I did not get appropriate help, which caused serious mental fear and suffering for me and my children.”
Domestic violence groups describe this as a form of exit trade, in which perpetrators prevent victims from returning to Australia.
Such cases have recently increased and victims need support to seek help.
Fatima, who was raised and married in Australia, traveled to Pakistan With her children to visit her in -laws.
After two years of alleged mental and physical abuse, she ended the relationship and left the family home of her former husband, but she remained stranded in Pakistan almost three years after the divorce.
“While my husband returned to Australia, we were stranded because the father of the children refused permission to renew their expired Australian Passports, “she said.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) reports an increase of 17 percent in exit trade affairs from 2022–23 to 2023–24, with almost a quarter of all complaints about human trafficking in the past two years.

What is exit trading?

Leaving human trafficking includes sending someone abroad under the false promise of return, while the perpetrator deliberately appears their return.

AFP commander of human exploitation, Helen Schneider, said that the AFP will leave human trafficking as a serious crime and remains dedicated to tackle it. Credit: SBS Urdu

AFP commander of human exploitation, Helen Schneider, said that although many cases are not reported, the AFP leaves human trafficking as a serious crime and continues to work to support victims and bring perpetrators to court.

The AFP fights human trafficking with partners through a victim -oriented approach, whereby the emphasis is on prevention, detection, disturbance and prosecution.

Helen Schneider, AFP commander of human exploitation

Leaving human trafficking includes taking someone abroad and preventing their return.
Fatima said that, after stranding with her children in Pakistan, she contacted (DFAT), and other authorities but received no help.

Moreover, she said that she got threats from her husband’s family.

I lived in fear with my children for two years, but despite the fact that I had contacted every authority, there was no real support from the Australian system while we were stranded.

Fatima

A spokesperson for DFAT told SBS Urdu that the department does not comment on individual matters; However, it works with other authorities to support victims, with the level of help ranging depending on every case and is limited by local laws and processes.
“The type and size of the consular aid provided depends on the specific circumstances of each case and location,” said the spokesperson.
“DFAT works proactively with other agencies in cases where individuals run the risk forced marriage or modern slavery and are looking for consular support. The local legal framework can also limit the ability of DFAT to help victims and survivors abroad.”
Experts suggest that exit trade is closely linked to various forms of domestic violence.
Bangle Foundation, based in Queensland, has been supporting victims of domestic violence for more than ten years, especially women from South Asian background.

The director of the foundation, Yasmin Khan, told SBS Urdu that human trafficking often arises from domestic or family violence.

Yasmin Khan.jpg

Exit -Mensenhandel often comes from domestic violence, with women who are cheated and stranded without support without support, according to the director Yasmin Khan, director of Bangle Foundation. Credit: Supplied by Yasmin Khan

“I have many cases in which victims, mainly women, are misled in travel abroad and then abandoned without documents or financial support, which means they are unable to return to Australia,” she said.

Exit -human trafficking often starts with domestic violence; Women must speak on the early signs before it gets too late and they are stranded.

Yasmin Khan, head of the Bangles Foundation

Proponents and support groups say that many cases are not reported because of cultural and systemic barriers.
According to Khan, limited culturally suitable official support makes it more difficult for the stranded abroad to get help.
Schneider emphasized that, according to Australian law, exit trade is a serious crime.

“When credible information is received, victims are assisted and the police actively chase and arrest the perpetrators,” she said.

During her stay in Pakistan, Fatima learned that many other women have to do with similar situations, but miss the courage or means to seek help.
SBS Urdu was unable to independently verify Fatima’s account, and no legal proceedings have started or charged against the alleged perpetrator, who was unreachable.
Khan said, however, that she has heard many similar stories.

She said she knew several cases in which women or families were still stranded abroad while their partners returned to Australia.

Some persecutions have been successful, but the number of penalties is very low compared to the total number of cases.

Yasmin Khan, the Bangle Foundation

Increase awareness of exit trade

Schneider emphasized the need for consciousness and vigilance and noted that victims are often confronted with language barriers, visa problems and cultural pressure that offenders exploit.

She said that the AFP is working with community groups, has appointed that the trade in the trade and a back-to-school awareness campaign is organizing.

In response to questions about support for stranded Australians abroad, the spokesperson for DFAT emphasized her global consular services.
Khan called for improved, cultural sensitive support from Australian foreign missions in Southeast Asia.
At DFAT, she insisted on adapting help to better meet the needs of victims in South Asian countries, where current consular aid is often insufficient.
The Australian government has 124 embassies, high committees and consulates in 86 countries to help Australians abroad. A 24-hour consular emergency center also supports people in need.
“Help can include guidance, help with local authorities, replacement travel documents and access to medical or mental health care,” said a spokesperson for DFAT.

Fatima told SBS Urdu that she believes that the laws should be changed in cases such as Hare, where a former partner refuses to give permission for passport requests for minor children, so that the family remains stranded abroad, especially when the father does not support or maintains contact with the children.

The current system does not support overseas victims and is preferred to the perpetrator instead.

Fatima

_______________

Help and support

If your life is in danger, call 000 immediately.

DFAT Consular Emergency Center (24/7 Consular Aid for Australians abroad)

Telephone: +61 2 6261 3305 (from abroad), 1300 555 135 (from Australia)

Local police

National Domestic Violence and Helpline for Sexual Violence

Mental health care and counseling

Support for men who experience family violence

Translate and interpret service (TIS National)

Telephone: 131 450

_______________

SBS Urdu is switched on Instagram” Facebook And YouTube. Us SBS -Audio App is available for Apple and Android devices. Listen Spotify or Apple podcasts. Listen Wednesday and Friday programs On this link.


#Stranded #women #children #entangled #exit #trading #crisis #Australia

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *