HOME OFFICE News
Release (110-08) issued by The Government News Network on 4 May 2008
The City of
Leicester is today playing host to the first in a series of
roadshows organised by the Government to help tackle honour-based violence.
The event, which takes place at Leicester City Football
Club's stadium, is bringing together those at the frontline
of the drive to raise awareness in affected communities and tackle
honour-based violence. Attended by police, Crown Prosecution
Service, Leicester NHS Trust and local charities, the roadshow
aims to increase participants' understanding of the problem
so that they are more prepared to spot the tell tale signs, share
best practice from across the country and help those who suffer
from honour-based violence.
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said:
"So called honour-based violence is a heinous crime that has
no place in our society. I want to help those who fear
honour-based violence to have the confidence to come forward and
report their concerns to the police.
"I recognise the scale of the problem is largely unknown
since so much of it remains underground. But this roadshow will
help authorities identify the problem more readily, helping some
of the most vulnerable people in the country.
"I will strive to help ensure that victims are encouraged to
come forward with the knowledge that they will receive the help
and support they need."
The Government already supports victims of honour-based violence
through a new national helpline for victims, partly funded by the
Government and run by East Midlands based charity Karma Nirvana.
Shazia Qayum of Karma Nirvana said:
"All the team at Karma Nirvana are survivors of forced
marriage or honour-based violence. A forced marriage is a marriage
where one or both partners do not consent to the marriage or
consent is extracted under duress.
"Everyone has a right to choose who they marry and when they
get married. You are not wrong for having made the brave decision
to leave a forced marriage."
Vernon Coaker added:
"We are developing a cross government action plan to tackle
honour-based violence which includes forced marriage, honour
killings and female genital mutilation.
"The plan is being developed with ACPO and other CJS
agencies and aims to improve the response of police and other
agencies to all forms of honour-based violence and ensure that
victims are encouraged to come forward with the knowledge that
they will receive the help and support they need. The plan will
also address raising awareness and improve training and monitoring
amongst communities and professional bodies."
The Home Office announced its intention to undertake these
roadshows around England and Wales in its Tackling Violence Action
Plan which was published in February this year and which sets out
crime fighting priorities over the next three years. Tackling
honour-based violence is one of the priorities in this action plan.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Further roadshows will take place in coming weeks and months
in Cambridge, Birmingham, Manchester, York, Cardiff and London.
2. Members of the public seeking advice, help and support on
honour-based violence should call the joint Home Office/Foreign
Office Forced Marriage Unit on 020 7008 0151. It receives around
5,000 calls each year.
3. Honour-based violence is defined as a threat to someone's
wellbeing because they have not, according to family and local
community members, conformed to religious or cultural
expectations. Examples could include individuals being forced to
marry, kidnapped, being physically or mentally abused and in the
worst case scenario be murdered.
4. Karma Nirvana launched the Honour Network Helpline earlier
this year, which is staffed by victims of forced marriage or
honour-based violence. It is active seven days a week from 9.30am
to 9pm on 0800 5999 247. For more information on Karma Nirvana go
to http://www.karmanirvana.org.uk/.