“Honour-based” abuse is often referred to as “so-called” because there is a need to be clear that there is no honour in abusing someone. As seen in the definition below, “honour-based” abuse is often carried out to prevent, or as a result of, the victim bringing shame on their family or the wider community. Transgressions can be relatively minor, but the consequences are significant potentially resulting in the victim’s death.
Although women are often seen as the main victims of “honour-based” abuse, men can be victims, too. More recently, there has been a move to highlight the under-reported issue of male victims of honour abuse. Male victims may be those deemed to be in an inappropriate relationship, gay or supporting the victim of other abuse.
This is not just something that affects adults, children can be victims of honour-based abuse as well.
Such abuse comes under the umbrella term of harmful practices.