Honour based abuse is a collection of practices used to control behaviour within families in order to protect perceived cultural and religious beliefs and/or honour. Violence can occur when perpetrators perceive that a relative has shamed the family and/or community by breaking their ‘honour code’.
Honour based abuse cuts across all cultures, nationalities, faith groups and communities. Circumstances which may lead to the abuse are wide ranging and not culturally specific. It is important to remember that, despite the use of this label, there can be no ‘honour’ in abuse, and where culture or tradition are used to exert power or control over others, this can only be a misuse of that culture.
Honour-based abuse includes: - Physical abuse (kicking and beating) - Psychological pressure (strict monitoring, humiliation, threats) - Forced Marriage - Abandonment (leaving someone in their country of origin or sending them back there); - Forced suicide - Honour killing (murder)
