In this podcast we explore the topic of Honour Based Abuse.
[Music] Please be aware in this podcast series we talk about all areas of safeguarding which some people may find upsetting so please make sure you’re okay listening to today’s topic be mindful of those around you such as children that you might not want to listen in hi I’m SSS safeguarding director s Preston and I’m former head teacher and content author Sarah SMI one of our recent podcasts focused on the topic of force marriage where we briefly touched upon today’s topic honor based abuse So today we’re delving deep into the intricate layers of honor-based abuse a topic that demands our attention and understanding so Sarah let’s start by exploring the very essence of honor-based abuse can you give us a you know an understanding of what it constitutes yeah of course you know at its core honor-based abuse refers to any form of violence or coercion inflicted upon individuals primarily women and girls in the name of preserving familial or societal honor this abuse can manifest in various ways you know including forc marriage female genital mutilation physical assault emotional abuse and even murder I think it’s also crucial though to recognize that owner based abuse extends Beyond physical violence and you know it does encompass a spectrum of controlling behaviors um so you know what factors contribute to the you know perpetuation of this deeply ingrained form of abuse well several factors intersect really to perpetuate this abuse you know including cultural and religious beliefs that prioritize family honor over individual rights you know deeply entrenched gender Norms that dictate women’s behavior and sexuality and so socioeconomic disparities you know that limit access to resources and opportunities and then each generation passes on these beliefs and practices which then further reinforces that sort of cycle of abuse yeah so the complexity of these factors highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive approach you know to combat it so just to get a real idea of what we’re talking about here here let’s delve deeper into the consequences of this abuse you know what are some of the impacts on individuals and communities well the impacts of Honor based abuse are profound you know and they’re multifaceted you know for individuals it can result in severe physiological and psychological trauma you know the systematic stripping away or undermining of an individual’s ability to make independent choices or take control of their own life and long lasting emotional scar and also you know within communities on a based abuse perpetuates cycles of violence it Fosters sort of fear and silence and and undermines efforts towards gender equality and social justice really yeah it’s just it’s you know it’s really disheartening to confront the devastating effects of H based abuse but awareness and action you know there’s it’s essential isn’t it in addressing the this issue so how can we as professionals and Society work you know towards preventing and addressing honor-based abuse effectively well I think education and awareness are really key you know by challenging those harmful beliefs and Norms you know promoting gender equality you know providing comprehensive support services for survivors we can sort of begin to dismantle the structures that enable honor-based abuse additionally strengthening legal Frameworks and fostering Community accountability and amplifying the voices of survivors are critical steps towards eradicating this form of abuse really so just picking up on the legal Frameworks what you know what is the legislation with regard to owner based abuse well it’s recognized by the UK government not only um a violation of Human Rights but also it constitutes domestic and child abuse it’s vital to understand the legal Frameworks in place to combat it really the UK has made significant stride in this regard we have various laws and acts specifically targeting different forms of honas abuse such as the force Marriage Act the female genital mutilation FGM the antisocial Behavior crime and policing Act of 2014 for instance that criminalizes forc marriage in England and Wales and it’s my understanding that it’s not just about preventing marriages forced upon individuals but also ensuring that those lacking the capacity to consent are protected you know such as legislation like the prohibition of um female genital mutilation that that instrict you know ensures strict penalties for such practices with maximum sentences up to 14 years imprisonment but what about enforcement especially in cases where orner based um abuse occurs outside the UK well enforcement you know it indeed it poses challenges you know particularly in regions where social and cultural norms May impede investigations and prosecutions however there is a global shift towards holding perpetrators accountable take India for instance you know um recent legal reforms now allow for the death penalty in murder cases related to honor crimes so significant development it reflects a a growing recognition doesn’t it of the seriousness of Honor based abuse and the need um you know for really decisive action in the UK how effective are our laws in Prosecuting offenders well while our legal framework is robust you know challenges still remain particularly in encouraging and Reporting and ensuring Swift and fair Justice however recent amendments like those in the serious crime Act of 2015 which introduced new offenses and increase penalties you know do demonstrate a commitment to combating honor based abuse so what are the penalties associated with honor based crimes and know in the UK there isn’t a specific offense designated as owner based crime is that right that’s correct Sam yeah you know instead a range of offenses falls under this umbrella term within existing legislation really okay so can you walk us through some of those offenses yes certainly so perpetrators of honor-based crimes may find themselves prosecuted for offenses such as Thea or provocation of violence common assault actual bodily harm Grievous bodily harm harm rape regardless of whether it occurs within a marriage or not uh harassment kidnapping uh abduction theft of a passport threats to kill false imprisonment and even murder so that’s quite a comprehensive list you know among these offense is where does forced marriage stand in terms of penalty well forced marriage is a particularly serious offense you know under the antisocial Behavior crime and policeing act 2014 perpetrators can face a penalty of up to seven years imprisonment additionally in England and Wales breaching a forc marriage protection order which is a civil law you know can also lead to criminal charges upon conviction with impr prisonment for a term not exceeding five years or a fine or both so there’s significant legal weight behind combating um Force managers in the UK and um I know we explore that further in our podcast on forc marriage I think it’s fair to say that it’s not just about having laws on the books isn’t it it’s it’s also about effective implementation as you said earlier Sarah you know education and awareness also play a crucial role in preventing honor-based abuse and even just that switch you know we used to talk about honor-based violence we’re now talking about honor-based abuse because we recognize that this abuse can be you know beyond physical abuse um you know so it’s it’s really you know creating that Society where you know every individual is treated with dignity and respect so absolutely yeah you know I guess um you know final thoughts Sarah absolutely you know I think our final thought really is I want to encourage our listeners or anybody who accesses this to educate themselves about honor-based abuse you know listen to the voices of survivors and to actually advocate for change in their communities we do a course on our website uh on honor based abuse and I’d encourage anybody who needs to learn more to to undertake that that can be found on our website you know together we can create a world where honor is synonymous with Justice and compassion it doesn’t need to be [Music] abusive