A raft of measures to help tackle honour-based violence (HBV) and support hard-to-reach communities should be introduced, according to a new report by Manchester Metropolitan University researchers.
The report calls on the government to create a new national framework to address HBV, alongside the appointment of a dedicated minister and new legal agreements with foreign governments.
Researchers from the University’s Manchester Law School presented their report to MPs and policy-makers at the House of Commons, outlining the findings of a year-long national roadshow.
The report, which is supported by Virendra Sharma MP and Pat McFadden MP, recommends establishing a separate government HBV unit and creating a national database to better record related statistics and data.
The report also recommends developing a new strategy to support men who are victims of HBV and forced marriage and increasing cooperation and communication between agencies when dealing with cases of HBV as well as developing advertising and awareness campaigns and introducing better training for interpreters working on behalf of victims
Dr Maz Idriss, Senior Lecturer in Law at Manchester Metropolitan, said: “While there are existing strategies aimed at preventing and supporting victims of forced marriages, there appears to be a lack of will and leadership from the government and policy-makers to prioritise HBV as a separate issue applicable to all government departments.”
Hosted by Manchester Metropolitan and the UK charity Jeena International, the HBV national roadshow took place in Manchester, Wolverhampton, Leeds and London. Each event was designed to raise public awareness of HBV and forced marriage, highlighting the issues facing both women and men.
