What is Honour Based Abuse?
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Honour-based abuse is a form of control or punishment used to protect or defend perceived cultural/religious beliefs and honour. Izzat is a word used by some communities to describe a family’s honour.
Women and girls of all ages are predominately, but not exclusively, the victims of Honour Based Abuse. The honour code means that females must follow rules that are interpreted according to what family members consider acceptable. For some communities, women are understood to bring shame to their families if they behave in a certain way that doesn’t adhere to what is expected of them, for example: by dressing, behaving or thinking in a ‘Western’ way; defying parental authority; their sexual orientation, openly dating before marriage; or seeking separation/divorce.
Adult males and young boys can also be the victims of Honour Based Abuse e.g. as a consequence of their involvement in what is deemed to be an inappropriate relationship, if they are in a same sex relationship or if they are believed to be supporting a victim of Honour Based Abuse.
The term ‘honour-based abuse’ embraces a variety of incidents or crimes of violence, including physical abuse, sexual violence, abduction, forced marriage, imprisonment and murder where the person is being punished by their family or community.
Click here to read the Honour Based Abuse and Forced Marriage National Guidance.
Watch an animation launched by Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid, in association with Police Scotland.
