What is Honour Based Abuse?
Honour based abuse is a collection of practices used to control behaviour within the family and community in order to protect perceived cultural and religious beliefs and/or honour.
Abuse can occur when perpetrators perceive that a person has shamed the family and/or community by breaking their honour code.
Women are predominantly, but not exclusively, the victims, which can be distinguished from other forms of violence, as it is often committed with some degree of approval and/or collusion from family and/or community members.
Men and boys can also be victims, sometimes as a consequence of their involvement in what is deemed to be an inappropriate relationship, if they are gay, or if they are believed to be supporting the victim.
Honour based abuse occurs across all cultures, nationalities, faith groups and communities. Relatives, including females, may conspire, aid, abet or participate in honour based abuse, for what might seem a trivial transgression.
The list is not exhaustive but examples of HBA may include:
- Murder
- Unexplained death (suicide)
- Forced marriage
- Fear of forced marriage
- Controlling sexual activity
- Domestic violence (Including psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional abuse)
- Child abuse
- Rape
- Kidnapping
- False imprisonment
- Threats to kill
- Assault
- Harassment
- Forced abortion
We take these issues very seriously and understand the sensitive nature surrounding forced marriages and honour based abuse.
If you contact us we will:
- arrange to see you in a secure and private place
- recognise and respect your wishes
- ensure everything you speak to us about is confidential and will not be disclosed to anyone
- take action to protect you
- provide you with support