Forced Marriage (FM) & Honour Based Violence (HBV) Merseyside - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Afrah Qassim Chair of Savera Merseyside Forced Marriage & HBV Steering Group

Forced Marriage (FM) & Honour Based Violence (HBV) Merseyside

Today’s Presentation

 Forced Marriage &Honour Based Violence Overview  The work in Merseyside so far  Work opportunities between Manchester and Merseyside (North

West)

“There is No Honour in Honour Killing”

What do these girls have in common?

They were all killed by their

• wn families in the name of

‘honour’

Heshu Jones Banaz Mahmod Laura Wilson Rukhsana Naz Anita Ginda Samaira Nazir Shafilia Ahmed

What is Forced Marriage?

‘A marriage conducted without the valid consent of one or both parties and where duress is a factor.’ The DIFFERENCE between ‘arranged’ and ‘forced’........ An ‘arranged marriage’ is one where parents or other relatives would have chosen the person they are to be with, but both individuals involved have the final say and CAN SAY NO to the suitors they are presented with.

“Honour” Based Violence

“Honour” based violence is a crime or incident, which has or may have been committed to protect or defend the honour of the family and/or community” “Honour” based violence’ is a fundamental abuse

• f Human Right.

Who is Affected

 Can happen anywhere anytime  Any one can be at risk, (but.. Some communities

are more at risk then others)

 Can not be justified on religious or cultural

ground

 Each case is different

STATISTICS 2013

 In 2013 FMU gave advice or support in over 1300 cases related to possible

forced marriage

• 15% of calls involved victims below 16 yrs
• 25% involved victims aged 16-17
• 48% involved victims aged 18-25
• 7% involved victims aged 26-30

 82% involved female victims and 18% involved male victims (but 57%

male in learning disability cases)

 97 instances involving those with disabilities  12 instances involved victims who identified as LGBT

Forced Marriage unit

Countries

 Pakistan (42.7%)  India (10.9%)  Bangladesh (9.8%)  Afghanistan(2.8%)  Somalia (2.5%)  Iraq (1.5%), Nigeria (1.1%), Saudi Arabia (1.1%), Yemen

(1%), Iran (0.8%), Tunisia (0.8%), The Gambia (0.7%), Egypt (0.6%) and Morocco (0.4%)

 The origin was unknown in 5.4% of cases

DATA from 2013

UK Regional Distribution:

London 24.9% West Midlands 13.6% South East 9.9% North West 9.3% Yorkshire and Humberside 6.8% East Midlands 4.2% East Anglia 3.5% Scotland 2.9% North East 2% South West 1.6% Wales 1.6% Northern Ireland 0.3% 19.4% of cases were classed as unknown

“Honour” Based Violence

Figures obtained by the (IKWRO 2010) showed at least 2.823 incidents of HBV with the highest number recorded in London

what we know is the tip of the iceberg

Factors Behind FM & HBV

 Each cultural group that practices FM &HBV develops its own socio-

cultural “Justification”

 The concepts of morality & honour are an important factor in encouraging

the practice of FM & HBV

 Poverty:

A young girl may be regarded as an economic burden and her marriage is believed to benefit her family both financially and socially

Factors Behind FB & HBV

These are some common causes:

* Controlling unwanted behaviour particularly that of women & preventing ‘unsuitable’ relationships. * Protecting perceived cultural

• r religious ideals.

* Claiming residence and citizenship strengthen family links For example – Getting a British Passport. * Providing carer for child or vulnerable adult.

The Impact

The Individual:

• Western culture, encourages independence, autonomy & Personal choice
• Sense of betrayal towards family, community, culture, particularly if the

family is loving and caring

• Feelings of shame, guilt and confusion

The Family:

• Parents torn between duties as parents and culture/tradition
• Consider it as an integral part of their parenting duties & can fear being

accused of neglect & bad parenting if they do not comply

• Parents can be pressured by extended family members

The Community:

• Sense of fear of further pressure
• Humiliation
• Pressure from families in the community
• Isolation within the community

Why is it not reported?

Negative experiences/percepti

• ns

Don’t know how to report it Fear of breaking family ‘honour’ No one understands what they are going through Accepting family, culture & traditions Fear of isolation from family, community, culture Children not wanting to go against their family’s wishes

Impor portant tant quo uotes es

Victims do not come looking for HELP, they pray that help will come looking for THEM

“Blood is thicker than water” “Honour is thicker than blood”

What we can all do: ONE CHANCE RULE

16

DO:

• Take them seriously;
• See them immediately and alone;
• Conduct a risk assessment;
• Respect their wishes and reassure them about confidentiality;
• Refer on / establish means of contact.

DO NOT :

• Send them away;
• Approach members of the family;
• Approach members of the community;
• Share information without consent;
• Attempt to mediate.

Case Study

Case study 1

• 15 years old,

Case study 2

• 17 Years old

The Work in Merseyside

 A Steering Group was setup in 2009 to look at this issue  Multi-agency protocol - recently agreed by Merseyside Safeguarding

Children/Adult Board –and launched (May2014)

 Savera – charity, (Dedicated to Tackle Domestic Abuse with BAMER

Communities)

 Awareness sessions continued to deliver in partnership with the

Community

 Flyer published promoting national services and local services that

have been trained on this agenda

 Piloted a five Harmful Practice training session across Merseyside  Training seminar for legal department as a result ( we can apply for

emergency FMPO at Liverpool family court

Suggestions of Partnership work Merseyside, Manchester (NW)

 Develop a North West Forced Marriage & HBV group (Harmful

Practice group) This will

 Strengthen communications and projects developments  Training for Judges  Funding opportunities  Scoping study to highlight services supporting women of FM &

HBV and effectiveness within NW

Conclusion

Forced Marriage & Honour Based Violence is a complex issue and requires a sensitive, innovative and multi-dimensional approach that relies on the empowerment and encouragement of individuals to engage with services But………………

“ Multi-Cultural sensitivity is No excuse for moral blindness”

(Home Office Minister)

Contact

Savera www.saveraliverpool.co.uk Saveraliverpool@hotmail.co.uk 07716266484