What Is Honour Based Violence/Abuse?

The hope with this article is that by the end  – you will have an understanding of what honour based violence/ honour based abuse is and have an understanding of how to protect victims of honour based violence/ honour based abuse 

What Is It?

There is no perfect definition – but this one is one of the better ones;

“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.”

Photo by Abigail on Unsplash

What Does It Cover?

• One big misconception that is commonly held is that is it is only about forced marriage. That couldn’t be further from the truth. It covers many other aspect of domestic violence including;
• harassment
• Kidnap;
• False imprisonment;
• Common assault, actual/grievous bodily harm;
• Threats to kill;
• Child abduction;
• Rape or other sexual offences
• Immigration offences;
• Fraud;
• Forced Genital mutilation
• People trafficking; 
• Controlling, causing or inciting prostitution
• Controlling and coercive behaviour (financial; physically and emotional)

How Can Victims Of Honour Based Violence Be Protected;

1. Non molestation/Occupation Orders

2. Forced Marriage Protection Orders –FLA 1996, s 63A(4)–(6) provides that a person (A) is forced into a marriage if another person (B) forces A to enter into a marriage (whether with B or another person) without A’s free will and full consent.It does not matter whether the conduct of B which forces A to enter into a marriage is directed against A or another person. Thus, the force used may include physical abuse, abduction, deprivation of liberty, restraint, harassment, stalking and control of finances. Emotional or psychological abuse may include threats towards the person to be protected or another person and including threats by the perpetrator to self-harm and other forms of pressure to destroy free will.

Please note, these are not the same as arranged marriages which providing they are entered into freely are acceptable.

Both breach of Non Molestation Order and FMPO are criminal offences-  s. 42A and S.63CA FLA 1996 Both carry automatic powers of arrest.

Forced marriage itself is a crime.

3. Female Genital Mutilation Protection Orders

There are FGM criminal offences under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003:

• the primary offence of FGM: section 1
• assisting a girl to mutilate her own genitals: section 2
• assisting a non-UK person to mutilate a girl’s genitals overseas: section 3; and
• failing to protect a girl from the risk of FGM: section 3A.
• allowing offence outside of England uk

4. Remember it’s a crime – coercive and controlling behaviour 

There is an offence of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship Section 76 Serious Crime Act 2015.

5. Prohibited Steps Orders

Outside organisations

1. Karma Nirvana
2. Southall Black Sisters
3. Forced Marriage Unit
4. IKWRO