Event Summary

Join Westminster Insight’s Honour-Based Abuse and Forced Marriage Digital Conference bringing together experts, the Government, charities and frontline practitioners to improve multi-agency collaboration.

Gain insight from lived experience to understand the complexities of so-called honour-based abuse (HBA) and forced marriage and better protect survivors.

You will hear from the Home Office and Women and Equalities Committee as we provide clear definitions of honour-based abuse and forced marriage, and the key distinctions between HBA and domestic violence. Explore how to confidently implement safeguarding measures to protect victims, and access funding for support.

We will discuss the prevalence of honour-based abuse in diverse communities spanning across cultures, genders and beliefs in order to dispel common public misconceptions. You will take part in open discussions and hear new ideas to unpack the systemic challenges that are faced by victims, survivors and organisations on the frontline.

Learn what more can be done to identify the signs and indicators and ensure accuracy in the reporting of HBA, asking how the justice system, police, heath, social care, schools and charities can work together in collaboration. You will hear how to build trust to increase prosecutions.

*Women and Equalities Committee Report 2023
**Statistics on so called ‘honour-based’ abuse offences, England and Wales, 2022 to 2023, Home Office

Key Points

  • Recent progress and next steps in recognising so-called honour-based abuse and forced marriage across policy and legislation
  • Recognising flags required for both forced marriage and honour-based abuse crimes
  • Strategies for ensuring accuracy in the reporting of HBA cases
  • Building trust in response, reporting and prosecution of cases
  • Strengthening multi-agency collaboration across services
  • Understanding the prevalence of these crimes and common misconceptions
  • Ensuring the protection of migrant victims and preventing cases being taken overseas
  • Building effective collaboration across multiple organisations to ensure HBA services can be delivered effectively
  • The achievements of campaign and political action against HBA