Honour-Based Violence
What is Honour-Based Violence
There are various excuses for honour based violence, these include loss of virginity outside marriage, extramarital affairs, rebelling against traditional behaviours and dress and not agreeing to forced marriages, in these cases the victim is most likely to be female. With homosexuality and refusal to take part in committing honour based violence, the victim tends to be male. The punishment for these discretions can be anything from humiliation and threats to beatings, forced suicide or murder. The Crown Prosecution Service describes Honour Based Violence in the following terms:-
“Honour based violence (HBV) can be described as a collection of practices, which are used to control behaviour within families or other social groups to protect perceived cultural and religious beliefs and/or honour. Such violence can occur when perpetrators perceive that a relative has shamed the family and/or community by breaking their honour code.”
How common is Honour-Based Violence
Reporting Honour-Based Violence
Citizens advice recommend the following steps.
1. Find somewhere safe to stay (relative, friends, refuge emergency
or rented accommodation)
2. It recommends that women in Wales looking for a refuge ring Live Fear Free on 0808 8010 800, for England they should ring the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
3. For men requiring a refuge in England they should ring Mens Advice Line on
0808 8010327, for men in Wales it’s the same number as above 0808 8010 800.
The MET police state that you should use the emergency number
999 if your life is in danger, otherwise call 101.
Otherwise, if you need help or advice use our signposting database to
locate the support you require.
The only answer to this is to report it to the police. Ring 999 if you are in immediate danger or 101 if you have been a victim, remembering that even a threat means that you are a victim.
Honour-Based Violence in regards to race
There are no statistics that specifically highlight the numbers of
domestic abuse associated with the BAME communities.
Due to the disproportionate incarceration of black men and women
in the UK, there is little faith in the police, which means that people
of colour are less likely report their abuse.
There is also, in many communities also a language barrier to
reporting domestic abuse.
In the UK Honour Based Violence is most common in the Muslim community, but can also be found within the traveller community.