Coventry City Council is helping raise awareness of Honour Based Abuse (HBA) and that people can seek help and support if they know someone at risk.
Homes Office Figures suggest there are approximately 12 honour killings in the UK each year. In 2022, there were 2887 HBA related offences recorded by police in England and Wales. However, the real number is thought to be considerably higher.
The definition provided by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (2015) states that Honour Based Abuse (HBA) is: ‘a collection of practices used predominantly to control the behaviour of women and girls within families or other social groups in order to protect supposed cultural and religious beliefs, values and social norms in the name of ‘honour’.
HBA can take many forms: from domestic abuse and violence, to psychological abuse, child and forced marriage and to murder/“honour killing”.
Girls and women are most at risk of HBA and are vulnerable following a refusal or breakdown of an arranged or forced marriage, termination of an unwanted pregnancy or defying parents.
14 July marks a Day of Memory for those who have lost their lives because of HBA
It was founded by Karma Nirvana which is an organisation committed to ending Honour Based Abuse in the UK. The day is dedicated to remembering Shafilea Ahmed on her birthday, the 14 July. Shafilea, a British-born girl, was tragically murdered by her parents at the age of 17 in 2003, due to her refusal to accept a marriage.
Cllr Pervez Akhtar, Deputy Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, said: “Coventry City Council will continue, alongside its partners, to provide support from the first steps of acknowledging these hidden harms through to the support from specialist organisations who can help rebuild confidence and lives.
“We know that there can be stigma attached to reporting and that certain groups of people within our community face additional barriers to accessing services – that’s why we work with agencies to support them.”
Sandra Manak, Interim CEO at Panahghar, which provides a safe haven for people affected by this type of abuse, said: “We stand in solidarity with victims and survivors of Honour Based Abuse (HBA) as we observe the Day of Memory on 14 July. By raising awareness and fostering understanding, we can help prevent future cases and support those affected.
“We urge individuals who have been affected by Honour Based Abuse or who know someone at risk to seek help and support. Panahghar provides a 24-hour helpline (0800 055 6519) to offer immediate assistance and guidance.”
Anyone in immediate danger, should contact the emergency services on 999. For more information on available resources and support services, visit our website at www.safehouse.org.uk You can also contact Safe to Talk, Coventry City Council’s Domestic Abuse website. Anyone including professionals can call 0800 111 4998 8.30am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday or 10am - 1pm Saturday and Sunday.