So-called honour-based abuse is usually perpetrated by the victims' families, extended families and members of their community, hoping to uphold the “honour” of the family. 

While there is no specific offence of so-called honour abuse, it’s a very real practice. 

These crimes are a violation of human rights and are a form of domestic abuse. 

It is term that involves various offences that are already covered by the law such as physical abuse (kicking and beating), psychological abuse (strict monitoring, humiliation, threats), forced marriage, forced suicide and honour killing. 

So-called honour-based abuse is predicated on control within families or extended groups to protect cultural and religious beliefs and/or “honour”. Violence can occur when abusers think that a relative has shamed the family and/or community by breaking their so-called “honour”.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service and Safe Lives, around 76% of victims of “honour-based abuse” are female, but boys and men are also at risk. 

One form of this type of abuse is forced marriage. This is a marriage without the true consent of one or both parties – because of violence, threats or coercion – or because they are under the legal age of marriage.