Violence against women and girls

So-called ‘honour-based’ abuse is abuse motivated by the perpetrator’s view that an individual has shamed, or may shame, the perpetrator, the family, or community. 

This includes breaking perceived norms of the community’s accepted behaviours. 

This may be by speaking out about the abuse. This can be an incident or pattern of violence, threats of violence, intimidation, or abuse. Honour-based abuse can take different forms, including domestic abuse, forced marriage, virginity testing, and FGM. 

Some common ‘behaviours’ that may be seen as bringing shame include: 

• defying their parents
• seeking a divorce or seeking a residence of the children after divorce
• refusing to marry a man chosen by the family (rejecting a forced marriage)
• sexual relationships or pregnancy before or outside of marriage (including kissing or intimacy in public)
• becoming ‘western’ by wearing make-up or clothes deemed inappropriate
• having male friends or boyfriends from another faith
• using drugs or drinking alcohol
• being sexually assaulted or raped
• being LGBT+

So-called ‘honour-based’ abuse is not a religion-based issue or cultural practice. It is a form of abuse. 

National Support Services

• Karma Nirvana

  Advice, information, and support around honour-based abuse and forced marriage 

  Call 0800 5999 247 

If you are in immediate danger, call the police on 999

If you or someone you know is at risk of forced marriage, you can contact the Forced Marriage Helpline on fmu@fco.gov.uk or 02070080151

Local London support services

• Ashiana Network 

  Advice and support for South Asian, Turkish and Iranian victims and survivors of domestic abuse

  info@ashiana.org.uk or call 020 8539 0427

   

• Kiran Support Services 

  Advice and support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse from Asian backgrounds.

  Info@kiranss.org.uk or call 020 8558 1986

   

• IMECE 

  Advice and support for survivors of domestic abuse from Turkish, Kurdish and Turkish Cypriot backgrounds

  info@imece.org.uk or call 020 7354 1359

   

• Galop

  Advice and support for LGBT+ victims and survivors of domestic abuse 

  help@galop.org.uk or call 0800 999 5428

   

• Solace Women’s Aid 

  Domestic abuse advocacy service for victims and survivors of domestic abuse 

  walthamforestidsvaservice@solacewomensaid.org or call 07340 683382

   

• Stay Safe East 

  Advice and support for disabled survivors of domestic abuse

  enquiries@staysafe-east.org.uk or call 07865340122 

   

• Southall Black Sisters

  Advice and support for Black, African, or Caribbean Women, as well as victims and survivors of domestic abuse with no recourse to public funds

  info@southallblacksisters.co.uk 020 8571 0800 

• Honour-based abuse is a form of domestic abuse. Many forms of domestic abuse are illegal. This includes coercive and controlling behaviour, sexual abuse, and physical abuse
• Child Marriage is illegal in England and Wales to get married under the age of 18
• Forced Marriage is illegal in the UK. A civil Forced Marriage Protection Order (FMPO) can protect against forced marriage
• Virginity Testing is illegal in the UK
• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a criminal offence and a form of child abuse. This includes taking someone abroad to have FGM performed (even if the procedure is legal in that country), and assisting, encouraging, or arranging FGM, whether in the UK or abroad
• Breast Flattening is illegal as a form of child abuse and assault