There is currently no statutory definition of Honour Based Abuse in England and Wales. However, it is widely recognised as, “a form of domestic abuse that is often considered to be cultural, traditional or religious.”

It can lead to a deeply embedded form of coercive control, built on expectations about acceptable and unacceptable behaviours.

Perpetrators are often family members, partners or ex-partners, or the wider communities. Control is often established without overt violence against the victim, e.g., family members may threaten to kill themselves or ostracise the victim.

Some communities consider ‘honour’ above the safety and wellbeing of individuals. To compromise ‘family honour’ is to bring shame, which can have severe consequences, and is sometimes used to justify emotional and physical abuse, disownment and even murder.

 More common forms of honour-based abuse include (but are not limited to):

  • Forced Marriage (link): Coercing individuals into marrying against their will, often to uphold family honor or strengthen social ties.
  • Psychological pressure: Strict monitoring, humiliation, threats)
  • Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): The partial or total removal of external female genitalia. It is often carried out to control a woman's sexuality and preserve family honor.
  • Dowry-Related Abuse: Acts of violence, emotional and financial abuse or harassment associated with giving or receiving dowry. Dowry-related abuse can take place before, during or after the marriage.
  • Virginity testing
  • Enforced abortion
  • Physical and verbal abuse
  • Confinement
  • Abduction
  • Sexual abuse
  • Coercive control (link)
  • Murder or "Honor Killings": In extreme cases, individuals believed to have brought shame upon their family might be murdered. These extreme acts are viewed as a measure for the family to re-deem their honour and are often referred to as "honor killings."

Are you in immediate danger?  

Find a safe space - If an incident has just happened, go to a safe location where there are other people, e.g. the library on campus, a shop or eatery if in a public place.  

If you are in immediate danger or seriously injured call 999 (or 112 from a mobile). If you are hard of hearing, download the 999 BSL App.   

If you are on campus, contact Campus Security Services via the SafeZone App., by dialling 333 from any internal telephone, or 01792 513333 on a mobile. 

 

 If you are not in immediate danger, you have time to consider your options.

There’s no right or wrong way to respond, it’s what’s best for you. It might help to talk to someone; this could be a friend, family member, a professional organisation e.g. karma nirvana  or you can contact specialist staff at the university via the Report & Support platform. See options below: -

 

Reporting Options – You Decide

A disclosure is not an official report and will not result in formal action. It's up to you whether you make a report. No-one else should make that decision for you, no matter how well intended.

Report to the police: Speaking to the Police is your choice. Whilst there is no specific offence of ‘honour-based abuse, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) states it is a violation of human rights and may be a form of domestic and/or sexual violence. Therefore, they are criminal acts covered by legislation that already exists. Here is some Victim Support Information - Reporting to the police.  

 

Report to Crime Stoppers - You can report to Crime Stoppers on Tel: 0800 555 111 or via the  Crimestoppers online form.

 

Report to the University: If the perpetrator is a member of the University community (staff or student) you have the option of submitting a formal report via the Dignity at Work and Study policy. The Student Union Advice & Support Centre (SUASC) can assist you with writing your statement.

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