Honour Based Violence

The terms “honour crime” or “honour-based violence” or “izzat” embrace a variety of crimes of violence (mainly but not exclusively against women), including assault, imprisonment and murder where the person is being punished by their family or their community. They are being punished for actually, or allegedly, undermining what the family or community believes to be the correct code of behaviour (Source:
The Right to Choose: Multi-agency statutory guidance for dealing with
forced marriage, 2014).

Honour based violence (HBV) can be present in any community or culture and even though women falls victims to such abuse, males can also be victims. It is often associated where family members or acquaintances mistakenly believe that the individual has bought ‘shame to the family/community because that have not conformed to the traditional beliefs of their culture.

Honour based violence may occur against people who:

• Begin a relationship with another individual from a different religious, faith or culture group;
• Want to escape from an arranged marriage;
• Are in a marriage which has been forced upon them and they are looking for a way to escape the marriage;
• May take part in activity or wear clothes that do not conform to the traditional beliefs of a particular culture;
• Being intimate or kissing in a public place;
• Becoming pregnant outside of a marriage.

Advice and Assistance

• Call 0808 2000 247 - free 24 Hour national domestic violence helpline
• http://www.safe.met.police.uk/crimes_of_honour/been_a_victim_and_need_some_help.html
• www.kingston.gov.uk/info/200314/domestic_and_sexual_violence/929/get_help_from_domestic_or_sexual_violence
• www.richmond.gov.uk/home/services/community_safety/domestic_abuse/where_to_get_help_for_domestic_abuse.htm
• www.richmond.gov.uk/one_stop_shop_flyer_12.pdf
• kva.org.uk/assets/documents/oss-xmas-opening-times