NEW ZEALAND, May 23, 2009: The number of Indian women reporting dowry abuse has nearly doubled in the past year in new Zealand. The Shakti foundation, which runs four women’s refuges, says an increasing number of callers to its crisis line are from women of Indian origin – and two of every three reports made by these women involved dowry abuse. Shakti spokeswoman Shila Nair said, “It is also worrying that the intensity of abuse is also getting worse.”
Dowry abuse occurs when the husband or his family continues to press the wife’s family – sometimes with threats and physical violence – for more money or other gains after the marriage. Dowry was made illegal in India in 1961; but New Zealand has no laws against forced marriage or dowry abuse, and the problem is becoming widespread among ethnic Indians here. Ms Nair estimates the number of cases numbers in the hundreds.
Ms Nair said Shakti has been campaigning since 2007 for the Government to follow India’s lead in banning the practice of dowry, forced marriage and under-age marriage, but it did not seem to be getting anywhere.
Pansy Wong, Minister of Ethnic Affairs and Women’s Affairs, said she would discuss with the Minister for Justice whether there was a need for new legislation. She also stated that blackmailing was an offence in New Zealand.