In a landmark case, a 52-year-old Victorian man has become the first person in the state convicted of exit trafficking after deceiving his wife into traveling to Sudan and then abandoning her there, taking her passport and children back to Australia. The case, which concluded with a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence handed down in a Melbourne court on Tuesday, sheds light on the alarming rise of this hidden form of human trafficking.
What is Exit Trafficking?
Exit trafficking refers to the act of coercing, deceiving, or threatening someone into leaving Australia against their will. Under Commonwealth law, this practice is illegal and treated as a form of human trafficking. Victims are often closely controlled by their traffickers and may be dependent on them due to language barriers, ineligibility to work, lack of access to money, and limited understanding of their rights and local laws.
The Growing Prevalence
According to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), reports of exit trafficking have been steadily increasing. In the 2022-23 financial year, the AFP received 30 reports, which rose to 35 in the last financial year. However, research suggests that only around 20% of human trafficking and slavery cases in Australia are detected, indicating that the true scale of the problem is likely much larger.
“Exit trafficking is a serious crime that often goes unnoticed, with victims facing numerous barriers to seeking help,” a spokesperson for Anti-Slavery Australia warned.
Who is at Risk?
Women are particularly vulnerable to exit trafficking, with the Australian Red Cross reporting that nearly 90% of clients referred to their Support for Trafficked People program are female. According to Prof Jennifer Burn, director of Anti-Slavery Australia, the most common form of exit trafficking they encounter involves young Australian women and girls being trafficked overseas for forced marriages.
There has also been a noted increase in cases of women on temporary visas being trafficked out of Australia by their intimate partners. These women often face additional challenges in seeking help due to their visa status and fear of retribution from their traffickers, who may be from their own communities or families.
Challenges in Prosecution
Despite the severe penalties for exit trafficking, which can result in up to 12 years’ imprisonment, prosecuting these crimes presents significant challenges for law enforcement. Victims’ lack of awareness of their rights, fear of speaking out, language barriers, and the need to gather evidence from overseas can all hinder investigations and legal proceedings.
“Prosecuting exit trafficking is a complex undertaking, often relying heavily on victim testimony, which can be difficult to obtain,” an AFP spokesperson acknowledged.
A Landmark Case
The recent Victorian case, which marks the first exit trafficking conviction in the state, involved a man deceiving his wife into traveling to Sudan under the guise of attending a relative’s wedding. Once there, he took her passport and abandoned her, returning to Australia with their children.
The successful prosecution, which resulted from a thorough investigation by the AFP and cooperation from Sudanese authorities, sends a strong message that this form of trafficking will not be tolerated. It also highlights the importance of raising awareness of exit trafficking and ensuring that victims have access to support services and legal assistance.
Moving Forward
As exit trafficking continues to rise in Australia, it is crucial that efforts to combat this crime are stepped up. This includes increasing public awareness, improving victim support services, and strengthening international cooperation to facilitate investigations and prosecutions.
Organizations such as Anti-Slavery Australia and the Australian Red Cross play a vital role in providing assistance to victims and advocating for change. Through their tireless efforts and the dedication of law enforcement agencies, there is hope that more perpetrators will be brought to justice, and more victims will be able to escape the clutches of their traffickers.
The landmark Victorian case serves as a wake-up call to the hidden reality of exit trafficking in Australia. It is a reminder that we must remain vigilant, support those who are most vulnerable, and work together to end this insidious form of exploitation.
