Victim Portfolio
Honour-Based Abuse
Student ID: 210004004
Student ID: 210004004 Page 1 of 12
,INTRODUCTION (150 Words)
This portfolio is focused on the victimisation experienced by South Asian
and Middle Eastern female survivors of ‘honour-based abuse’ (HBA), a form
of violence used by some families and communities to control women in the
name of ‘honour’ (HMIC, 2015).
Though HBA takes place across the world, it is now becoming more
prevalent within the UK, with an 81% rise in related crimes being recorded
between 2016 and 2020 (The Guardian, 2021). However, the criminal
justice system and wider society struggle to understand the nature or scale
of HBA (HMIC, 2015), so necessary steps must be taken to minimise the
chances of survivors being overlooked.
Throughout this portfolio, I aim to discuss the key victimological concepts
surrounding honour-based abuse, delve into its long and rich socio-
historical history, explain findings collected from quantitative and qualitative
research methods, and then share the heart-wrenching story of a brave
young woman named Banaz Mahmod.
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,KEY CONCEPTS (390 Words)
Secondary Victimisation Blame attribution can follow as a result of
——————————————————— this ‘casual responsibility’ because more
The concept of ‘secondary victimisation’ blame is then put onto the victim than the
refers to a process where a primary victim offender, especially if they are seen as a
feels that they have been unjustly treated by ‘less respectable victim’ (Landstrom,
individuals or institutions in relation to a Stromwall and Afredsson, 2015; 3) in
crime committed (Gekoski, Adler and Gray, comparison to other victims.
2013).
Routine Activity Theory
In the case of honour-based abuse, the ———————————————————
main cause of secondary victimisation is Formed as one of criminology’s main
due to a lack of understanding in a broad concepts, routine activity theory (RAT)
social context, which often leads to suggests that crime occurs when there is an
survivors being blamed for their abuse accessible target, a likely offender and an
(Tavares et al.,2022), especially if they absence of guardians that could intervene
broke an ‘honour code’ (Safeguarding Hub, (Cohen and Felson, 1979; Miro, 2014).
2018).
This framework can be used regarding
Additionally, when HBA is reported to law honour-based abuse because vulnerable
enforcement agencies and goes through the survivors can easily be accessible targets
criminal justice system, many outcomes are for abuse when threatened by their offender
unfavourable (Orth, 2002) for survivors as (Miro, 2014).
convicting HBA is incredibly challenging,
further damaging their self-esteem and faith Similarly, a capable guardian would not be
in the legal system. present to protect the target because HBA is
almost always carried out privately and
Positivist Victimology and Blame enabled by the survivors family and/or
Attribution community (HMIC, 2015).
———————————————————
The aim of positivist victimology is to identify Lastly, the likely offender could be anyone
why individuals may be prone to with a good motive and chance to commit a
victimisation and how they may hold ‘casual crime (Miro, 2014). So, the grounds to
responsibility’ (Miers, 1989; 3) alongside an restore family ‘honour’ through harm fulfils
offender for their victimisation depending on this idea (Savera UK, 2020).
their relationship and the crime committed.
When applied to honour-based abuse, it
could be argued that survivors may
precipitate the events leading up to the
abuse (Miers, 1989), especially if they
previously went against any cultural
traditions that their family or community, who
are often the offenders, believed in (Savera
UK, 2020).
Image: ScholarZest (2021)
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,SOCIO-HISTORICAL BACKGROUND (355 Words)
The Origins of Honour-Based Abuse becoming too ‘Westernised’ (e.g. wearing
—————————————————— make-up or having boyfriends) could lead to
Honour-based abuse is a phenomenon that anger and therefore violence to try and
has been reported world-wide since the time correct any shame or dishonour.
of Ancient Rome (Goldstein, 2002).
Media Attention
———————————————————
The crisis of HBA first began to gain
attention as a social opprobrium when high-
profile cases of ‘honour killings’ were
reported by mainstream media. The
murders of young women such as Shafilea
Ahmed and Banaz Mahmod uncovered the
existence of hidden but abhorrent gendered
victimisation present within the UK.
Image: Romanino, The Death of Verginia
Though HBA predominantly targets women,
it is not confined to any particular gender,
culture, religion or society (Fatima, 2017).
Yet, in recent years, honour-based abuse Photograph: Shafilea Ahmed, CNN (2012)
has been highlighted to largely take place in
Many media outlets prejudicially
South Asian and Middle Eastern
misconceived HBA as something supported
communities (Idriss and Abbas, 2010). For
by Islam and Muslims across the world, yet
example, HBA has long been an issue in
as Idriss and Abbas (2010; 4) remarked it
countries such as Pakistan and India, with
must instead be seen as ‘an international
2/5 of the world’s annual honour killings
women’s human-rights issue’.
taking place there (Asia Democracy
Chronicles, 2022).
UK Law and Policies
———————————————————
Honour-Based Abuse in the UK
Though the practice of HBA has been
———————————————————
challenged by UK activist groups in recent
In the United Kingdom, HBA often occurs
years (e.g. Karma Nirvana), no statutory
within immigrant families of South Asian and
definition exists for it (NPCC, 2018). Much
Middle Eastern descent (Dorjee, Baig and
of the abuse associated with HBA is illegal
Ting-Toomey, 2013). The existence of such
(e.g. FM and FGM) in the UK, but a law is
abuse can possibly be attributed to the fact
needed to highlight its existence because
that second generation migrants struggle to
the already existing Sex Discrimination Act
balance Western norms with the values of
1975 was not designed to criminally deal
their older family members and community
with intricacies and cultural significance of
(Idriss and Abbas, 2010). As a result,
HBA (Idriss and Abbas, 2010).
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, FINDINGS FROM STATISTICAL DATA (360 Words)
Key Findings
————————————————————————
According to the BBC (n.d), up to 12 honour killings
take place in the UK every year. Since 2009, the
Metropolitan Police have recorded an official rise in
recorded honour-based violence. Yet, this rise has
shown no sign of stopping.
The Home Office (2022) states that there were 2,887
honour-based offences recorded by police in England Data Quality
and Wales between March 2021 and March 2022; ————————————————
showing a 6% increase in recorded offences from the Though statistical insight into
year prior. honour-based abuse is helpful, the
dark figure of crime questions its
This table from the Home Office (2022) illustrates the reliability.
rate of FGM and forced marriage offences alongside
other HBA related offences from March 2021 to March For example, many victims of HBA
2022: do not report their abuse because of
internalised cultural norms and
values they cannot simply break
All HBA- FGM Forced Other HBA-
away from (Gill, 2008). Similarly,
related offences marriage related tagged
offences offences offences many victims face a ‘significant risk
of harm’ (HMIC, 2015;12) from their
England 2,887 77 141 2,669 abusers if their crimes are reported
and because it creates more dishonour if
Wales made public.
Findings Explained In addition to this, law enforcement
———————————————————————— agencies see HBA as a ‘South Asian
The increase in recorded honour-based abuse can be problem’ (Gill, 2008; 248).
attributed to the possibility that more HBA survivors are Therefore, it is possible that some
reporting crimes to police. If awareness is raised staff do not identify certain crimes
greatly, law enforcement can adequately help and as being HBA-related (Home Office,
support victims, which in turn allows them to feel safe 2022). As a result, even if they
enough to be honest about their abuse (Karma choose to record the abuse, it is not
Nirvana, 2022). reflected in HBA statistics.
However, the rise in reported and recorded cases of
HBA could also indicate an actual increase in such
offences (Home Office, 2022). The biggest cause of
this increase is likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over lockdown, Karma Nirvana (2020) saw HBA levels
increase because victims were forced to stay with their
abusers. Plus, 50% of services felt that their support for
such victims was not adequate as a result of the
lockdown (Karma Nirvana, 2020).
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