Honour Based Abuse in Close Relationships

In so-called honour-based abuse acts of abuse are justified through cultural beliefs and norms related to honour and shame that are shared within a particular community. Honour-based abuse is often intertwined with other forms of abuse, such as emotional abuse, spiritual abuse, coercive control, and stalking.

Honour-based abuse is not linked to any specific cultural or ethnic group. It can occur within many different types of communities. It is also common for there to be more than one perpetrator, such as members of an extended family or a wider community.

Honour-based abuse typically involves a combination of emotional abuse, threats of violence, and extensive control over the victim’s life. This control can be highly comprehensive and may extend to all areas of life, including personal relationships, education, employment, hobbies, identity, and lifestyle. It may also involve the threat of being excluded or ostracised from the community if honour-related norms and expectations are not followed.

Both minor and severe forms of physical violence may occur, particularly in situations where a family member is suspected of violating these norms. Examples may include dating a person who is not accepted by the family or community, seeking a divorce, or refusing to marry. Belonging to a sexual or gender minority, breaking expected dress codes, or pursuing work or hobbies considered inappropriate may also be viewed as violations of honour-related norms.

Honour-based abuse may also involve sexual violence, such as pressure to engage in sexual activity or the use of sexual violence as a form of punishment. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is generally considered a form of honour-based abuse. Forced marriage is also often associated with honour-based abuse.

In the most severe cases, honour-based abuse can result in serious injury or death.

Read more about domestic violence

• Domestic violence can affect everyone
• Dynamics of an Abusive Relationship
  • Warning Signs of an Abusive Relationship
• Experiencing Violence and Abuse in a Close Relationship
  • Traumatic Crisis of Domestic Abuse
  • Children and Adolescents as Victims of Domestic Violence
• Forms of Violence and Abuse in Close Relationships
  • Emotional Abuse in Close Relationships
  • Physical Violence in an Intimate Relationship
  • Sexual Violence in Close Relationships
  • Digital Abuse in Close Relationships
  • Coercive Control in Close Relationships
  • Economic Abuse in Close Relationships
  • Spiritual or Religious Abuse in an Intimate Relationship
  • Post-Separation Abuse and Stalking in Close Relationships
• Leaving an Abusive Relationship
  • Considering Safety in Situations Involving Domestic Violence and Abuse
  • Advice for Those Supporting a Victim of Domestic Abuse
• Recovering from Abuse and Violence