8th October 2024
Karma Nirvana, a leading UK charity supporting victims of Honour Based Abuse (HBA), has revealed a concerning rise in cases handled by its helpline, with 2,962 cases reported over the past year through their annual data release – indicating a 13% increase from the previous year. On average, the helpline received 795 contacts per month and handled 247 cases monthly, highlighting the urgent need for greater awareness and action on HBA. This data covers April 2023 to March 2024.
Barriers to Support: The report reveals that the most significant barrier victims faced was fear of repercussions, which was cited in 1,930 cases. Mistrust of professionals was the second most common barrier, affecting 688 victims – a figure that has risen dramatically compared to previous years. Alarmingly, 23% of victims also had an insecure immigration status, further complicating their ability to escape abuse.
Triggers for Abuse: The data shows that Honour Based Abuse was often triggered by a history of abuse (15%) or simply by the victim’s gender, with being female accounting for 10% of cases – a stark 42% increase from the previous year. Most victims (90%) were women, with 36% aged between 18-25.
Many victims faced multiple forms of abuse, with an average of 1.3 abuse categories per case, and HBA was frequently accompanied by Domestic Abuse. Victims typically contacted the helpline three times on average, though cases involving children required significantly more follow-ups.
Geographic Concentration: West Yorkshire emerged as a hotspot for Honour Based Abuse, accounting for 27% of all cases, with Leeds alone responsible for 21%. Other high-prevalence areas included London, the West Midlands, Thames Valley, and Greater Manchester.
Perpetrators: In terms of perpetrators, 26% of cases involved partners, while close male family members were responsible in 17% of cases and close female family members in 14%. Victims frequently reported multiple perpetrators, with an average of 1.5 categories of abusers per case.
Additional Vulnerabilities: The data also revealed that 1 in 4 pregnancies related to HBA were concealed, and most victims were either married (43%) or separated (27%). 12% of callers spoke English as a second language, while 1 in 10 victims had no access to public funds.
Nearly half (49%) of all cases were signposted to Karma Nirvana by a professional, highlighting the critical role that professionals have in recognising and addressing HBA.
This data, captured through our National Helpline, sheds light on just how widespread Honour Based Abuse (HBA) is in our society. These victims could be your friend, sister, employee, or mother. Unfortunately, the growing number of HBA cases is compounded by the many barriers victims face when seeking support such as fear of repercussions, mistrust of professionals, and immigration challenges are creating dangerous environments where victims feel trapped.
These data reports highlight the issues and complexities victims experience, such as multiple perpetrators, the barriers to reporting, concealed pregnancies, and the triggers that lead to abuse. Survivors need to know they are not alone. Support services, like Karma Nirvana, are here to provide the help they need.
We urge all professionals to be vigilant in recognising signs of Honour Based Abuse and ensure they understand what actions they can take to protect those at risk.
Every victim deserves to live free from violence and control. This data highlights the urgent need for government action to introduce a statutory definition of Honour Based Abuse, ensuring that victims receive the comprehensive support they need.
Karma Nirvana’s helpline continues to be a critical lifeline for those experiencing Honour Based Abuse, but these findings highlight the pressing need for more robust protection and support for victims through statutory professionals, particularly those facing barriers related to immigration status, language, and mistrust of authorities.
Interviews available with:
Please contact [email protected] for interviews or further statements, available with:
- Natasha Rattu from Karma Nirvana (Executive Director)
Contact Information:
For media inquiries or further information, please contact: [email protected].
A huge thank you to our dedicated helpline team for their incredible work in 2023-2024.