Honour Based Violence and Forced Marriage How to protect children and young people What is honour based violence?
• for some families the most important thing is their cultural concept of honour • honour or izzat is the reputation and social standing of an individual, a family or a community and is based on judgements about the behaviour and morality of its female members • honour based violence encourages violence towards family members who are considered to have dishonoured their family • it is a crime or incident which has or may have been committed to protect or defend the honour of the family and/or community • it is mainly directed towards female family members • it is rooted in domestic violence but is not necessarily carried out by just one person • family members, associates and members of the community are often involved, meaning that victims are at risk from their parents, families and community • it includes forced marriage, honour killings, extra control at home What is forced marriage? It is a marriage conducted without the valid consent of both people. One or both of the people may be forced to marry due to emotional pressure, intimidation, threats and/or physical abuse. The person is made to feel that unless they marry as instructed, they are bringing unacceptable shame and dishonour on their family.
A marriage must be entered into with the full and free consent of both people. Everyone involved should feel that they have a choice.
An arranged marriage is not the same as a forced marriage. It is an ongoing tradition in many communities for families, relatives and friends to introduce suitable, prospective spouses. It is then up to both parties to end this arrangement with marriage or not. The marriage is entered into freely by both people, with their full involvement.
Forced marriage is a hidden problem which remains under-reported. According to the Government’s Forced Marriage Unit (FMU)*: • the majority of victims are female • 15% of the cases they deal with involve young men • those most at risk are 15-24, but 30% of their cases are minors, some as young as 10 years old
*The Forced Marriage Unit is a government unit supporting victims and potential victims of forced marriage. They also offer advice to professionals. Why do honour based violence and forced marriage happen?
• to maintain the family’s honour in the eyes of the community • to control someone’s behaviour so that it meets the traditional expectations of a person’s family or community. For example, controlling unwanted behaviour and sexuality, particularly that of women, and preventing ‘unsuitable’ relationships • peer group or family pressure • protecting perceived cultural or religious ideals, which can often be misguided • prevent relationships with individuals from outside one’s ethnic, cultural, religious or social group • long-standing family commitments • strengthen family ties with the community or extended family; sometimes in order to improve the family’s financial position • ensuring land remains within the family • preserve and maintain the family’s wealth • maintain the order of marriage within siblings (in many cases it is customary for the oldest sibling to marry first) • providing a carer for a disabled family member/reducing any perceived stigma of disability • to help claims for residence and citizenship What are the warning signs of honour based violence and forced marriage?
• family history of relatives gone missing, self-harm or suicide • relatives making decisions on behalf of the victim • victims may truant or have extended absences from school due to policing at home • victims may report that they are being kept at home against their will • there may be a decline in academic or work performance • the victim may report threats to kill which tend to be credible • victims may report they are being emotionally blackmailed • victims may be isolated due to physical, financial or cultural barriers • victims may suffer from depression, self harm or attempt suicide • psycho-somatic symptoms • emotional and/or physical abuse • older siblings or relatives may have a history of forced marriage
What to do if you have concerns: Any agency or individual who has concerns that a child or young person known to them may be forced into marriage, or a victim of honour based violence, should discuss their concerns with a child protection advisor.
Often a situation will be far from clear and the advisor will be able to identify the need to make an immediate referral to Children’s Social Care. Do not attempt to mediate between the young person and any of their family members Mediation, reconciliation, and family counselling as a response to forced marriage can be extremely dangerous and put the young person at risk.
• do not assume that the victim has been behaving ’badly’ to be at risk. Failing to conform in a relatively minor way may give perpetrators sufficient self-justification to inflict serious harm or to kill • be aware of the potential seriousness of the danger and the immediacy of the risk • there can be a rapid escalation of serious violence ending in murder if intervention and prevention tactics are not enforced • there is a small window of opportunity to intervene, particularly if the victim is being taken abroad • consider the need for immediate protection and placement away from the family or care setting • be aware that other individuals may be at risk, ie, siblings, boyfriends, girlfriends
The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 came into effect in November 2008. This enables the victim or a relevant third party to apply to the court for an order protecting the victim from being forced to marry. Forced Marriage Orders are time limited. The expiry date should be recorded and an alert set as a reminder of the date. Children and young people’s protection contacts Children’s Social Care, Islington Children’s Services 020 7527 7400 Metropolitan Police: Under 18s - Child Abuse Investigation Team 020 7421 0291 18 and over - Islington Police Station 020 7704 1212 Emergency 999
Forced marriage and honour based violence contacts IMECE Women’s Centre Information Line 0207 354 1359 www.imece.org.uk IKWRO (Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation) (9:30-5:30) 0207 920 6460 Kurdish/Arabic (24 hrs) 07846 275246 Farsi/Dari/Turkish (24 hrs) 07846 310157 www.ikwro.org.uk KMEWO (Kurdish and Middle Eastern 0207 263 1027 Women Organisation) 07748 851125 Support for Kurdish and Arabic speaking women and children in London www.kmewo.org Honour Violence Helpline 0800 599 9247 9am-9pm, 7 days per week Karma Nirvana 0800 599 9247 www.karmanirvana.org.uk Forced Marriage Unit 0207 008 0151 www.fco.gov.uk/forcedmarriage Ashiana 0800 599 9247 www.ashiana.org.uk Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 200 0247 www.stophonourkillings.com Islington Safeguarding Children Board 3 Elwood Street London N5 1EB
Tel: 020 7527 4209 / 4234 Visit: www.islingtonscb.org.uk