Campaign and Policy Updates27th February 2026

Government Introduces New Legal Definition for Honour-Based Abuse

Karma Nirvana welcomes the government’s introduction of a definition of a statutory definition for Honour-Based Abuse (HBA) into the Crime and Policing Bill – a significant step forward in the #Push4Change campaign.

Karma Nirvana welcomes the government’s introduction of a statutory definition for Honour-Based Abuse (HBA) into the Crime and Policing Bill – a significant step forward in recognising a form of abuse that has long been misunderstood, overlooked, and inconsistently identified across the UK. A statutory definition for Honour Based Abuse is a crucial starting point for identifying cases and supporting victims. Statutory definitions play a vital role in providing precision, uniformity, and legal acknowledgement to critical matters.

Today’s development follows sustained campaigning through the #Push4Change campaign, in memory of Fawziyah Javed – led by Yasmin Javed, Fawziyah’s mother, and supported by over 60 violence against women and girls (VAWG) organisations. The campaign was launched on International Women’s Day 2024, following the release of the Channel 4 documentary, The Push: Murder on the Cliff. The documentary follows the murder trial for Fawziyah, who was pushed from Arthur’s Seat while pregnant. Fawziyah’s murderer was convicted; however, the Javed family are still left with the loss of their only child. 

For decades, the absence of a statutory definition has contributed to fragmented responses across safeguarding agencies, leaving victims without adequate protection and allowing perpetrators to avoid accountability. The #Push4Change campaign put forward a survivor‑centred statutory definition developed over four years in consultation with survivors, legal specialists, frontline services, and the VAWG sector.

This step is a pivotal moment forward, and Karma Nirvana intend to closely consult with our Survivor Ambassador Panel as well as the specialist sector on the proposed definition in the bill. This represents an exciting moment, and the closest we have gotten in our campaign journey to achieving a statutory definition for HBA.