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Abuse

So-called honour-based abuse

Definition

Honour-based abuse is “an incident or crime involving violence, threats of violence, intimidation coercion or abuse (including psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional abuse) which has or may have been committed to protect or defend the honour of an individual, family and/ or community for alleged or perceived breaches of the family and/or community’s code of behaviour.”

If your family or community think you’ve shamed or embarrassed them by behaving in a certain way, they may punish you for breaking their ‘honour’ code.

Examples of this include:

  • have a relationship or marry someone outside your community or someone within your community that your family don’t approve of
  • separate or divorce
  • talk to certain people
  • have sex before marriage
  • become pregnant or give birth outside of marriage
  • wear clothes your family or community think are inappropriate
  • use drugs or alcohol
  • access higher education
  • challenge what your family or community expect of you.
  • disagree with the religion of your family or community.

There isn’t one specific crime of honour-based abuse. It can involve a range of crimes and behaviours.

Forced Marriage:

Specific forced marriage offences under section 121 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 could be:

  • a breach of a Forced Marriage Protection Order under section 120 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, and
  • any criminal offence of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) that has been carried out in the context of a forced marriage either:
  • to coerce a party/parties into marrying without their consent, which would be prosecuted for the specific offence committed, e.g. harassment, kidnap, threats to kill; or
  • After a forced marriage without the consent of one or both parties and where duress is a factor, which again would be prosecuted for the specific offence e.g. rape, sexual assault.

Female genital Mutilation: (FGM)

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or any other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

FGM has been categorised into four types, ranging from a symbolic prick to the clitoris or prepuce, to the fairly extensive removal and narrowing of the vaginal opening. All these forms of FGM have been found in the UK.

FGM is sometimes known as ‘female genital cutting’ or female circumcision. Communities tend to use local names for referring to this practice, including ‘sunna’.

FGM is considered a grave violation of the rights of girls and women.

FGM is illegal in the UK:  It is an offence for any person (regardless of their nationality or residence status) to:

  • perform FGM in England and Wales
  • assist a girl to carry out FGM on herself in England and Wales
  • assist (from England or Wales) a non-UK person to carry out FGM outside the UK on a UK national or UK resident

If you’re concerned about someone being abused in this way, here are some warning signs to look out for:

  • acting withdrawn or upset
  • bruising or other unexplained physical injury
  • depression, self-harming or attempted suicide
  • unexplained absence or poor performance at school or work
  • their movements at home are strictly controlled
  • family rows, domestic violence
  • running away from home
  • a family history of relatives going missing

Examples

  • forced marriage
  • domestic abuse (physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or financial)
  • sexual harassment and sexual violence (rape and sexual assault or the threat of)
  • threats to kill, physical and emotional violence and murder
  • pressure to go or move abroad
  • being kept at home with no freedom
  • not allowed to use the telephone, internet, or have access to important documents like your passport or birth certificate
  • isolation from friends and members of your own family
  • Harassment:
  • Kidnap;
  • Blackmail;
  • False imprisonment;
  • Common assault, actual/grievous bodily harm;
  • Threats to kill;
  • Child abduction;
  • Rape or other sexual offences
  • Immigration offences;
  • Fraud;
  • Marriage offences;
  • People trafficking; and
  • Controlling, causing or inciting prostitution.

Statistics

Karma Nirvana reports 120,000 contacts to the national Honour Based Abuse Helpline since 2008.

They supported 2,346 victims in 2022/23.

Safety Advice

Immediate harm:

  • In situations of honour based abuse, it is often the case that they only have one opportunity to seek help. If they have come to you, make sure you take this seriously and find the support they need.
  • DO NOT use family or people from their local community as an interpreter.
  • DO NOT allow family members to see them for any reason without the person’s consent.
  • Contact 999 if a person who is being abused feels that they are at risk of serious harm or homicide.
  • If the person who is being abused needs to be removed from their home for safety please contact their local housing department to make a homeless referral or contact Our refuges – Refuge or via their national helpline: 08002000247.
  • If a person is considered not to have the mental capacity or ability to make safe choices, make a referral to adult safeguarding services in your area.
  • If children are involved and at risk, make a safeguarding referral to your local team.
  • If there is an imminent risk of suicide or self harm, please refer the person being abused to: First Response Service | DPT by calling 08081968708. You may also need to call 999 and ask for ambulance or police.
  • If they feel they may be taken out of the country ask them to put a metal teaspoon in their underwear. Airport security are trained to recognise this and will take them to a room alone to seek help.
  • If you suspect a forced marriage contact the Forced Marriage unit Urgently: telephone: +44 (0) 20 7008 0151. Email; fmu@fcdo.gov.uk

Ongoing:

  • It is important to ask what the client wants moving forwards and what they may need to achieve that.
  • It is important to look at any additional services that the client may want to become involved in order to support them with their additional needs.
  • Help and support the person being abused to document abuse that is happening to them.
  • Refer them to the local specialist support agencies for domestic abuse.
  • Talk to them about their available options and allow them to choose what works best for them and their individual situation.
  • Remind them that honour based abuse is not legal in this country and that there is support available to keep them safe.

I want to leave my relationship safely – Women’s Aid (womensaid.org.uk

Who to Contact

Karma Nirvana

Support for Honour-Based Violence & FGM Victims in the UK | True Honour

Home – Southall Black Sisters

Forced marriage – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

You can access help and support anonymously from the NSPCC FGM Helpline on 0800 028 3550 or email: fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk

Devon (not including Plymouth and Torbay): FearFree – Local Support for Domestic Abuse (03451551074)

North Devon: NDADA – Domestic Abuse support, recovery & refuge (01271 370079/80)

Torbay: Torbay Domestic Abuse Service (TDAS) | Sanctuary Supported Living (sanctuary-supported-living.co.uk) (08009161474)

Exeter- We are safe. About SAFE – SAFE Foundation (wearesafe.org.uk) 03030 300 112

For specialist support for black and minoritised victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence in Devon and surrounding areas you can also contact THE OLIVE PROJECT | CREATING REAL CHANGE IN DEVON

More information

What is honour-based abuse? | Metropolitan Police

So-Called Honour-Based Abuse and Forced Marriage: Guidance on Identifying and Flagging cases | The Crown Prosecution Service (cps.gov.uk)

Honour-based violence – Victim Support

Forced marriage: a survivor’s handbook – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Female genital mutilation: the facts (accessible version) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)


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