The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has partnered with Anti-Slavery Australia (ASA) to launch a new campaign raising awareness about forced marriages and their illegality in Australia.
The campaign, Project Skywarp, aims to reach passengers passing through Sydney Airport.
Over the next six months travellers will see custom-designed posters across bathrooms in the Domestic and International Terminals, as well as on digital screens.
The posters encourage readers to learn more about forced marriage, helping them to understand that forcing someone into a non-consensual marriage is against the law in Australia.
National Manager of Crime Operations at the AFP, Assistant Commissioner Debbie Platz said the campaign would also show people how to report information to the AFP, and would encourage referrals to the support services available through Anti-Slavery Australia’s My Blue Sky website.
“The project aims to raise awareness of forced marriage in the Australian community and where victims can get help, while bringing together Government, advocacy and advice services, and corporate supporters who are united in the aim of eliminating all forms of human trafficking and modern slavery,” Assistant Commissioner Platz said.
“Sydney Airport is Australia’s gateway and busiest airport with over 44.4 million passengers passing through each year, and was selected as the launch site to ensure the maximum level of effectiveness for the awareness initiative.”
She said washroom advertising was chosen given that bathrooms were often the only places in an airport that passengers at risk of being taken overseas for forced marriage might be on their own, and able to access information in a private space.
