Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Rejected
Introduce a statutory definition for honour-based abuse with accompanying multi-agency guidance
Recommendation
The Government should introduce a statutory definition of honour-based abuse. It should consult a wide range of experts, specialist by-and-for services and survivors of honour-based abuse on framing the definition using the existing Crown Prosecution Service definition as a starting point. The definition, once finalised, should be accompanied by statutory multi- agency guidance. (Paragraph 49) Supporting victims and reforming the law
Government Response Summary
The government explains that a clear non-statutory definition of honour-based abuse already exists and it is not clear that making it statutory would improve outcomes, though they will continue to keep it under review.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that professionals recognise and understand HBA. There is a clear non-statutory definition which both the Home Office and the CPS already use: “an incident or crime involving violence, threats of violence, intimidation, coercion or abuse (including psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional abuse) which has or may have been committed to protect or defend the honour of an individual, family and/or community for alleged or perceived breaches of the family and/ or community’s code of behaviour”. In addition we have published statutory guidance on both FGM and forced marriage which professionals are legally required to have regard to. It is not clear that making the definition statutory would improve understanding of or the response to these crimes, however, we will continue to keep this under review.