‘Honour’-based violence and forced marriage spotlight

Resources to help professionals working with people experiencing or at risk of ‘honour’-based violence and forced marriage – part of our 2016–2019 Spotlights series that shone a light on the hidden victims of domestic abuse.

People at risk of ‘honour’-based violence (HBV) and forced marriage experience domestic abuse for longer, on average, than those not at risk. They are also more likely to experience harm from multiple perpetrators.

In the fourth of our Spotlights series in 2017, we focussed on the experiences of people at risk of ‘honour’-based violence and forced marriage. We looked at the specific issues and barriers they face in accessing help, and how professionals can best support them.

About SafeLives’ Spotlights series

Our 2016–2019 Spotlights series shone a light on hidden victims of domestic abuse. We explored the experiences of victim groups who face additional barriers to accessing support, and can feel ‘hidden’ from services. Discover insight from survivors, practitioners, academics and other experts, alongside our own research and data.

My husband started the physical abuse, and the other family members soon followed. His family began to give the children expensive gifts and my children began to turn against me... From day one, my mother-in-law, father-in-law, sisters and brothers in law, and then my husband and now children too. What was I going to do?

Amala, survivor

To be honest, I never knew there were services that could support you and help people in my situation. Because to us, for me, it's like a normal thing: I've seen my grandmother, my aunties, my mother going through all that... people just think that is the way it is, that is the way that it's supposed to be. They don't know that there are organisations or people that can help me.

Ada, survivor

Key findings

5 years
is the average time victims experience abuse before accessing support
23%
of victims weren't eligible for most benefits, tax credits or housing assistance
68%
of victims at risk of HBV were at high risk of serious harm or homicide

compared to 55% of those not identified at risk of HBV