What is Honour-Based Abuse?

Honour-based abuse is a crime or incident committed to protect or defend the 'honour' of a family or community.

If your family or community think you've shamed or embarrassed them by behaving in a certain way, they may punish you for breaking their 'honour' code.

Is honour-based abuse happening to you?

Have you been threatened or abused if you've tried to:

• have a relationship or marry someone outside your community or someone within your community that your family don't approve of

• separate or divorce

• talk to certain people

• have sex before marriage

• become pregnant or give birth outside of marriage

• wear clothes your family or community think are inappropriate

• use drugs or alcohol

• access higher education

• challenge what your family or community expect of you

• disagree with the religion of your family or community

People who carry out honour-based abuse are often close family members but also extended family or community members.

Types of honour-based abuse

There isn't one specific crime of honour-based abuse. It can involve a range of crimes and behaviours, such as:

• forced marriage

• domestic abuse (physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or financial)

• sexual harassment and sexual violence (rape and sexual assault or the threat of)

• threats to kill, physical and emotional violence and murder

• pressure to go or move abroad

• being kept at home with no freedom

• not allowed to use the telephone, internet, or have access to important documents like your passport or birth certificate

• isolation from friends and members of your own family

Warning signs

If you're concerned about someone being abused, here are some warning signs to look out for:

• acting withdrawn or upset

• bruising or other unexplained physical injury

• depression, self-harming or attempted suicide

• unexplained absence or poor performance at school or work

• their movements at home are strictly controlled

• family rows, domestic violence

• running away from home

• a family history of relatives going missing