Professionals are still concerned about tackling so-called honour-based violence because of “cultural sensitivities”, a Home Office Minister has admitted.
Karen Bradley said “certain professionals” still do not have the confidence to question harmful child abuse happening in the UK.
She raised the concerns during a House of Commons debate on breast ironing, a practice which originated in Cameroon but is now believed to have affected up to 1,000 girls in Britain.
Breast ironing uses hot objects heated on a stove to pound and massage girls’ breasts during puberty to retard their growth, in the belief it will make the girls less sexually attractive.
Questioned on the role of schools in tackling harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and breast ironing, the Minister (pictured) said: “I know there are certain professionals who may feel reticent about this.
