Honour-based abuse means violence, coercion and control, committed by family members or communities, to protect or restore an idea of 'honour'. This abuse can include physical violence, emotional abuse, forced marriage, and other harmful practices.
Honour-based abuse is a severe violation of human rights, and has very serious and often lifelong effects on victims. If you, or someone you know, is experiencing this type of abuse, it is important to know how to report it and seek help.
Why this type of abuse happens
Honour-based abuse is often carried out in response to behaviour (or the perception of behaviour) such as the following:
Religious or community 'defiance'
- Disagreeing with the religion of the family or community
- Defying authority, such as insulting a family or community member, rejecting a forced marriage, refusing to take part in honour-based violence, or assisting a victim
- Lifestyle choices which a partner, family or community disapprove of, such as how you dress, going out alone or to certain places, displaying affection in public, using drugs or alcohol, or talking to certain people
Relationships and sexuality
Having a relationship, or expressing a sexual or gender identity, which is not acceptable to the family or community, such as:
- A relationship with someone outside the religion of the community
- A same sex relationship or LGBTQ+ identity
- Visible marital problems, separation or divorce
- An extra-marital affair
- Pre-marital sex or pregnancy
Types of abuse
Honour-based violence or abuse is not one specific crime, and can take many forms. Typically, the victim will suffer any of the following forms of abuse:
Loss of freedom
- Isolation from friends and family, or being expelled from the community
- Being kept against their will (with no access to passport, phone, or internet)
- Abandonment or pressure to move abroad (usually to their family or community's country of origin)
Violence
- Domestic abuse (of any type)
- Physical and emotional violence
- Common assault, GBH (grievous bodily harm) or kidnapping
- Manslaughter, death threats or murder
- Encouraging, assisting, or forcing suicide
Sexual attack or oppression
- Sexual harassment and violence, including rape and rape threats
- Forced marriage or forced abortion
- Female genital mutilation (FGM)
How to identify the signs of this type of abuse
If you are concerned about someone being abused, here are some warning signs to look out for (although there may be others):
Their appearance and mood
- Lack of confidence or self-esteem
- Being fearful or extremely anxious and upset
- Being withdrawn or unwilling to talk about home and family
- Depression, self-harm, or attempted suicide
- Unexplained physical injuries
- Major personality changes
Their situation or behaviour
- Domestic violence and family arguments
- History of family members going missing
- Being highly supervised and overly restricted in their movements
- Not having access to passport, internet, mobile phones, or family
- Difficulties at school or work and unexplained absences
- Running away from home
- Unusual or very frequent phone calls from partner or family
Report it
Any form of honour-based abuse or harmful practice is illegal, including female genital mutilation and forced marriage. Crimes of ‘honour’ should be treated as a violation of human rights, and not as a religious or cultural practice.
Contact the police
- In an emergency, always call 999
- Report honour-based abuse online
Report to us
You may need to call different teams, depending on the victim and the time you contact us.
- If you believe a child or young person is at risk of abuse and would like to report a concern, call B&NES Childrens Social Care Team on 01225 396312 or 01225 396 313 during normal office hours, or 014 5461 5165 (for out of hours emergency duty team).
- For adults with care and support needs, please ring B&NES Community Services team on 01225 396000.
Support for honour-based abuse
Please see our pages on FGM and Forced marriage, for dedicated advice and information about these forms of abuse.
Locally based organisations
Services
- Specialist support for any adult (18+) in B&NES who has experienced any form of sexual violence, at any point in their lives
Contacts and links
- Website
- Request support (via the B&NES Livewell website)
- Call the SARSAS helpline on 0808 801 0456
Services
- Support for anyone affected by crime
- Specialised web pages for FGM and forced marriage
Contacts and links
- Website
- Use their free online live chat
- Call Avon and Somerset care team on 0300 303 1972 (or the national 24/7 helpline on 0808 1689 111)
Services
- A multi-ethnic, multi-faith organisation for refugee women in Bristol
Contacts and links
- Website
- Call 0117 941 867
- 42, Easton Business Centre, Felix Rd, Easton, Bristol BS5 0HE
National organisations
Services
- 24/7 helpline for women and families trying to escape abuse
Contacts and links
- Website
- Call 0808 2000 247
Services
- 24/7 helpline for children, families or professionals
Contacts and links
- Website
- Call 0800 028 3550
- Email fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk
- Text 85888
Services
- Supporting victims of honour-based violence, forced marriage and FGM
Contacts and links
- Website
- Call our specialist support hub on 01642 683 045 (non-emergency)
- Email info@haloproject.org.uk
Services
- A specialist charity which provides support for women who are at risk of honour-based abuse
Contacts and links
- Website
- Call the non-emergency helpline on 0800 5999 247 (9am to 5pm, Mon to Fri)
- Complete the online contact form and a member of staff will be in touch
Services
- Confidential one-to-one victim support and training on how to deal with honour-based violence and forced marriage
Contacts and links
- Website
- Call 07480 621 711 for non-emergency advice and support
- Email contact@truehonour.org.uk
Organisations serving particular communities
Services
- Support around honour-based violence, for Middle Eastern, North African or Afghan women and girls
- Languages available: Arabic, Kurdish, Turkish, Dari, Pashto, Farsi, and English
Contacts and links
- Website
- General enquiries: call 0207 920 6460, 9.30 to 5.30 Monday to Friday (there is no support helpline service)
Services
- International women's rights organisation led by African women
Contacts and links
- Website
- Call 0208 960 4000 for advice, support and signposting to services
- Email support@forwarduk.org.uk
Services
- An organisation which advocate for and work with Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities to tackle discrimination and promote equality.
Contacts and links
- Website
- Visit their webpage on domestic abuse and sexual violence
- Call their domestic violence and abuse adviceline on 0754 1637 795