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Honour-based abuse is a term used for justification of abuse and violence. It is often the collective term used to include Female Genital Mutilation and Forced Marriage. These are not crimes perpetrated by men only. Sometimes females will support, incite or assist. Younger family members may also undertake the abuse to protect senior family members.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

World Health Organisation definition

All procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

Forced Marriage

A forced marriage is where one or both people do not consent to marriage. They are pressurised or abused to force marriage. For people with learning disabilities or reduced capacity, they cannot consent. It is recognised in the UK as a form of domestic or child abuse; a serious abuse of human rights.

The pressure put on people to marry against their will may be:

• physical: for example, threats, physical violence or sexual violence; and

• emotional and psychological: for example, making someone feel like they are bringing 'shame' on their family.

Financial abuse, for example taking someone's wages, may also be a factor.

Breast Flattening (also known as breast ironing)

The process whereby pubescent girls' breasts are ironed, massaged and / or pounded down with hard / heated objects to make them disappear or delay their development. It is practised in all of Cameroon. It has also been reported in Benin, Ivory Coast, Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Togo, Zimbabwe and Guinea-Conakry.

Child Abuse Linked to Faith or Belief

There is no single definition associated with child abuse linked to faith or belief.

The National Action Plan (Department for Education, 2012) includes the following:

• witchcraft and spirit possession, demons or the devil acting through children or leading them astray (traditionally seen in some Christian beliefs);

• the evil eye or djinns (traditionally known in some Islamic faith contexts);

• Dakini (in the Hindu context);
• ritual or muti murders where the killing of children is believed to bring supernatural benefits, or the use of their body parts is believed to produce potent magical remedies; and

• use of belief in magic or witchcraft to create fear in children to make them more compliant when they are being trafficked for domestic slavery or sexual exploitation.

This is not an exhaustive list. There will be other examples where children have been harmed because adults think their actions have brought bad fortune.

Useful information

Female Genital Mutilation

• ​Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation - FGM guidelines for those with statutory duties to safeguard children and vulnerable adults. Produced by the Department for Education, Department of Health and Social Care, and the Home Office.

Home Office

• Female Genital Mutilation: the facts (2019)

• Female genital mutilation: resource pack (2015 – updated 2020) - resource developed in response to requests for clearer direction from central government about the safeguarding responsibilities of local authorities. Designed to highlight examples of effective practice and to emphasise what works in fighting female genital mutilation (FGM).

• Mandatory reporting of female genital mutilation: procedural information (Home Office with Department for Education, 2015 – updated 2020)

Training

A free online training package dealing with FGM. Developed by the Home Office with Virtual College. Free online training to assist teachers, police, doctors, social workers and Border Force to identify and assist girls who are at risk of FGM. Provides safeguarding professionals with an overview of FGM and their responsibilities. Information on prevention and help for professionals to support those subjected to it. The training can be accessed by visiting the website: FGM Learning (2014)

Other resources

National FGM Centre

A partnership between Barnardo's and the Local Government Association. It aims to achieve a systems change in the provision of services for children and families affected by FGM. It is funded by the Department of Education as part of its Children's Social Care Innovation Programme. The Centre works closely with key partners from Local Authorities, Health, Education, Police, and the voluntary sector. In 2017, the Centre's remit extended to include Breast Ironing / Flattening and Child Abuse Linked to Faith or Belief.

The National FGM Centre published guidance for schools in 2019. It also produced a learning resource for professionals working with girls who could be at risk of FGM / have undergone FGM.

Various other organisations provide information about FGM – examples:

• Essex Police - information and guidance, including on reporting guidelines
  

• NSPCC - materials to help in recognising the signs of FGM
  

• Barnardo's - interactive map, posters and other resources
  

Forced Marriage

• Forced Marriage: How to protect, advise and support victims of forced marriage – information and practice guidelines for professionals (Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, 2013 – updated 2020)

• Childline - guidance and information for children if they are being forced into marriage
  

Breast Flattening

• National FGM Centre - Breast Flattening - information about the signs of this abuse, the law and what to do.

Child Abuse Linked to Faith or Belief

• ​Essex Safeguarding Children Board - information and training opportunities for those working with children and families in Essex and their managers. Providing the knowledge and confidence to recognise and respond to cases of child abuse linked to faith or belief

• National FGM Centre - Child Abuse Linked to Faith or Belief - information about the signs of this abuse, the law and what to do
  

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