It is usually carried out by immediate family members with the complicit help of relatives and the wider community.

Victims can be male or female, although the patriarchal structure of honour based communities tends to result in more severe abuse of girls and women.

Punishments in the form of physical violence are usually carried out by fathers, brothers, uncles, or mal com munity members.  Whilst a ‘wider community’ made up of Aunts, Cousins, neighbours and family are involved in tracking the movements of victims and report his/her ‘transgressions’ back to the immediate family.

If a victim is deemed to be too ‘Westernised’ they may be subjected to a campaign of terror which can include verbal, emotional, psychological, sexual or physical abuse.

This goes on until the victim gives up Western behaviours and submits to the expectations of a family and community.  In extreme cases families will carry out ‘honour killing’ to restore their family honour or izzat.  Every year there are believed to be 12 honour killings in the UK.

Honour Based Violence and Killings are illegal in the UK.

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