Honour-Based Violence

Honour-based violence (HBV) is a serious and often hidden crime rooted in cultural beliefs and practices that demand conformity to strict codes of conduct. These acts are committed in the name of preserving or restoring family ‘honour,’ but in reality, they are violations of human rights. Here’s a deeper understanding of each category of HBV:

• Physical Abuse: This involves the use of force to ensure obedience to so-called honour codes. It can range from beatings and imprisonment within the home to more severe forms of violence, such as torture and mutilation. The aim is to intimidate, control, and punish the victim for perceived transgressions.
• Forced Marriage: Forced marriage is when someone is coerced into marrying against their will. This may involve physical violence, emotional manipulation, or threats, often with a transnational element where victims are taken abroad under false pretences. Forced marriage strips individuals of their rights to choose a partner freely and to live without fear.
• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): FGM involves the cutting or removal of female genitalia for non-medical reasons, often justified as a rite of passage or to control female sexuality. It is a severe form of abuse with lifelong physical and psychological consequences. FGM is illegal in many countries, including the UK, but continues to be practiced in secrecy.
• Honour Killing (Murder): Honour killings are the most extreme form of honour-based violence, where a family member is murdered because they are perceived to have brought shame upon the family. These killings are often premeditated and involve multiple perpetrators, making them a particularly heinous crime.
• Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse in the context of honour-based violence is used to assert control and dominance. It may involve rape, forced sexual acts, or other forms of sexual exploitation, often to punish or ‘correct’ behaviour that is seen as dishonourable.
• Isolation from Family/Friends: Victims are often cut off from their support networks to increase their dependence on those enforcing the honour code. This isolation can be physical—keeping the victim confined to the home—or emotional, through controlling who they can speak to or where they can go.
• Financial Abuse: Financial abuse involves controlling a victim’s access to money or resources to keep them powerless. This can include preventing them from working, taking their earnings, or refusing them access to basic necessities, making it impossible for them to leave an abusive situation.
• Isolation from the Wider World: In addition to being isolated from family and friends, victims may be denied access to education, work, or even healthcare. This ensures they remain hidden and under the control of those enforcing the honour code, preventing them from seeking help or escaping the abuse.