Honour-based abuse is a form of control or punishment used to protect or defend perceived cultural/religious beliefs and honour. The honour code means that females must follow rules that are interpreted according to what family members or communities consider acceptable.
The term ‘honour-based abuse’ encompasses a variety of incidents or crimes of violence, including physical abuse, sexual violence, abduction, forced marriage, imprisonment and murder where the person is being punished by their family or community.
In addition to the physical and psychological harm that can occur, honour-based violence can impact the workplace in several ways. Victim-survivors may be coerced into specific jobs or not going for promotion because it is seen as inappropriate, or because they will be expected to interact with men. They can be shamed and judged for wanting a job. Those who are in the country on a visa may be threatened with deportation or otherwise being sent away unless they stop working.
Police Scotland has a page explaining honour-based abuse.
Female Genital Mutilation
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) includes all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural or non-medical reasons. Within communities that practice FGM, it might also be known as cutting, and is sometimes referred to as female circumcision. It involves removing and damaging healthy and normal female genital tissue, and it interferes with the natural functions of girls’ and women’s bodies. Although all forms of FGM are associated with increased risk of health complications, the risk is greater with more severe forms of FGM.
FGM is usually carried out on young girls between infancy and adolescence, but can be carried out on adult women. FGM is illegal in the UK, so girls and women are at risk of being taken out of the country to have the procedure.
