So called “honour-based” abuse is referred to as “so called” as 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 as a result of the victim bringing shame on their family or the wider community. Transgressions can be relatively minor, but the consequences significant potentially resulting in the victims 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, with potential causes being in what is deemed as an inappropriate relationship, being gay or being believed to be supporting the victim of other abuse.
This is not just something that affects adults. As we will see below, children can be victims of honour-based abuse as well.
Such abuse comes under the umbrella term of harmful practices.
