So-called honour-based abuse

Women and Equalities Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 4 Nov 2022 Closed: 6 Feb 2024 Parliament page
An inquiry to examine the prevalence of so-called honour-based abuse in the UK, the extent to which the Government, police and other services understand the forms of such abuse, and the support in place to help victims. Read the terms of reference to learn more about the inquiry . This … Read more
10 Recommendations
6 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
2 Letters
2 Events
Activity timeline 8 events
15 Sep
2023
Report published
19 Jul
2023
Report published
22 Mar
2023
Correspondence
22 Mar
2023
Correspondence
11 Jan
2023
Oral evidence
11 Jan
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
7 Dec
2022
Oral evidence
7 Dec
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
11 Jan 2023
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So-called honour-based abuse
DCC Ivan Balhatchet · National Police Chiefs' Council Jaswant Narwal · Crown Prosecution Service Nicole Jacobs, Designate Domestic Abuse Commissioner Sarah Dines MP · Home Office The Rt Hon Edward Argar MP · Ministry of Justice
7 Dec 2022
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So-called honour-based abuse; Women and Equalities Committee
Dr Hannana Siddiqui · Southall Black Sisters Dr Roxanne Khan · University of Central Lancashire Ms Diana Nammi · Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation Ms Surwat Sohail · Roshni Birmingham Ms Yasmin Khan Prof. Aisha K Gill PH.D CBE · University of Bristol
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Sixth Report - So-called honour-based abuse HC 831 19 Jul 2023 16 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Accepted
Sixth Report - So-called honour-ba…
Inconsistent honour-based abuse data collection by police and social care
There is inconsistency in how data on honour-based abuse offences is collected and recorded by the police. This is partly due to incorrect recording by police officers, either in failing to recognise an offence as honour-based, or in making an … Read more
Government Response
The government recognises the importance of high-quality data and states police are already working with partners to agree national data standards for recording protected characteristics, including ethnicity and race.
Government Equalities Office
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3 Conclusion Accepted
Sixth Report - So-called honour-ba…
Add honour-based abuse options to children's social care assessment census categories
The Department of Health and Social Care and the Department of Education should add options for honour-based abuse to both the ‘primary need at first social work assessment’ and ‘factors identified at the end of the assessment’ categories in the … Read more
Government Response
The government does not address the recommendation to add HBA options to the 'Children in need' census, instead detailing existing e-learning courses and statutory guidance on FGM and forced marriage for professionals.
Government Equalities Office
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4 Conclusion Accepted
Sixth Report - So-called honour-ba…
More work needed to empower honour-based abuse victims and ensure safeguarding
We welcome the steps taken by the police service in response to the concerns raised in the super-complaint on honour-based abuse brought by Liberty and the Halo Project in 2020. However, there is still more work to be done if … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of professionals having the right skills and details extensive existing training, e-learning courses, statutory multi-agency guidance, and resource packs provided by the Home Office, College of Policing, and the Forced Marriage Unit to enhance the recognition and response to HBA.
Government Equalities Office
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5 Recommendation Accepted
Sixth Report - So-called honour-ba…
Set out progress on police and safeguarding professionals' honour-based abuse training
In response to this Report, the Government should set out the progress made in implementing the national training package for frontline police officers on recognising so-called honour-based abuse. The Government must also set out the steps it will take to … Read more
Government Response
The government states the Department for Education has contracted research to understand the quality of implementation and teacher confidence in teaching statutory requirements related to HBA, with a report due in early 2024. It also notes that HBA is already included in teacher training modules.
Government Equalities Office
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7 Recommendation Accepted
Sixth Report - So-called honour-ba…
Improve the teaching of honour-based abuse within Relationships, Sex and Health Education settings
The Government is currently reviewing the content of relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) taught in schools. It is clear from the evidence we received that the teaching of honour-based abuse is currently inadequate. The ongoing review of RSHE should … Read more
Government Response
The government states that honour-based abuse is already taught as part of the ‘being safe topic’ in RSHE, with specific teacher training modules covering it. The ongoing RSHE review is assessing whether overall coverage is appropriate and can be strengthened on various topics, but does not specifically commit to improving HBA teaching as part of the review.
Government Equalities Office
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12 Conclusion Accepted
Sixth Report - So-called honour-ba…
By-and-for services for honour-based abuse victims are underfunded with complex commissioning
By-and-for services, which are organisations designed and run by and for people who are minoritised, are vital to ensuring victims of honour- based abuse receive the support they need. However, the sector is underfunded, and complex commissioning processes often prevent … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the vital work of HBA charities and states it has implemented measures like promoting consortium bidding, extended application times, and launched a £8.3m fund for 'by and for' services, alongside a commissioning toolkit.
Government Equalities Office
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13 Recommendation Accepted
Sixth Report - So-called honour-ba…
Increase multi-year funding for by-and-for honour-based abuse services via simpler grants
The Government should increase the funding available to by-and-for services that support victims of honour-based abuse. The Government should commit to providing this funding across multiple years. It should also assess the merits of that funding being made available in … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights existing measures, including the £8.3m VAWG Specialist and Support Services Fund for 2023/24 and 2024/25 and efforts to simplify funding applications for HBA charities, but does not commit to increasing overall funding or providing multi-year funding beyond the current period.
Government Equalities Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 16 of 10 classified
Accepted 7
Deferred 6
Rejected 3
Total 10 recs + 6 conclusions
Correspondence 2 letters
22 Mar 2023 To committee Letter from the Minister for Safeguarding relating to the Honour-Based Abuse inquiry
Parliament page
22 Mar 2023 To committee Letter from the CPS relating to follow-ups to the So-called honour-based abuse inquiry
Parliament page