17.5 Honour Based Abuse

There is no statutory definition of Honour Based Abuse (HBA) but the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) defines it as ‘an incident or crime involving violence, threats of violence, intimidation, coercion or abuse (including psychological. Physical, sexual, financial or emotional abuse) which has or may have been committed to protect or defend the honour of an individual, family and/or community for alleged or perceived breaches of the family and/or community’s code of behaviour’

Professionals should respond in a similar way to cases of HBA as with domestic abuse and forced marriage (i.e. in facilitating disclosure, developing individual safety plans, ensuring the child's safety by according them confidentiality in relation to the rest of the family, completing individual risk assessments etc.)

Virginity testing

Virginity testing, also referred to as hymen, ‘2-finger’ or vaginal examination, is an inspection of the female genitalia, intended to determine whether a woman or girl has had vaginal sexual intercourse.

For the purposes of the Health and Care Act 2022, virginity testing is any examination (with or without contact) of the female genitalia intended to establish if vaginal intercourse has taken place. This is irrespective of whether consent has been given.

The position of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) is that virginity tests have no scientific merit or clinical indication as there is no known examination that can prove whether a woman has had vaginal intercourse.

Hymenoplasty

Hymenoplasty is a procedure undertaken to reconstruct a hymen. There are a number of different techniques to achieve but it generally involves stitching hymenal remnants together at the vaginal opening, or surgically reconstructing a hymen using vaginal tissue. The aim of the procedure is to ensure that a woman bleeds the next time she has intercourse to give the impression that she has no history of vaginal intercourse. There is no guarantee that this will fully reform the hymen or cause bleeding when penetration is attempted.

Hymenoplasty is not the same as other procedures that could be performed on the hymen for clinical reasons (for example, surgery to remove remnant fingers of the hymen that cause discomfort, or to treat an imperforate hymen to allow menstrual blood to escape).

Virginity testing and hymenoplasty are forms of violence against women and girls and are part of the cycle of so called ‘honour-based’ abuse. Women and girls are coerced, forced and shamed into undergoing these procedures,

Some practitioners issue a certificate to prove ‘virginity’ after a virginity test or hymenoplasty, while some will simply tell the family or community members whether a woman or girl has ‘passed’ a virginity test.

Both virginity testing and hymenoplasty can be precursors to Forced Marriage of a child and other forms of family and/or community coercive behaviours, including physical and emotional control. Women who ‘fail’ a virginity test, are found to have undergone a hymen reconstruction, or do not bleed on their wedding night are likely to experience further so called ‘honour-based’ abuse including emotional and physical abuse, family or community disownment and even honour killings.

The practices are degrading and intrusive. They can lead to extreme psychological trauma in the victim, and can provoke conditions including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The practices have been linked to suicide. Virginity testing can result in damage to the hymen, tears and damage to the vaginal wall, bleeding, and infection. The risk of infection is also high in hymenoplasty, which has the added risks of acute bleeding during the procedure, scarring and narrowing of the opening of the vagina and sexual difficulties.

It is illegal to carry out, offer or aid and abet virginity testing or hymenoplasty in any part of the UK. These offences carry extra territorial jurisdiction and carry a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

UK nationals and residents who carry out a virginity test or hymenoplasty outside the UK also commit an offence in the UK. Virginity testing and hymenoplasty do not need to be an offence in the country where it takes place. 

As with other forms of so called ‘honour-based’ abuse, these practices often take place behind closed doors, in highly conservative communities and cultures. Because of this, the numbers of women and girls that are subjected to these practices are not known.   Women and girls and any other person who has female genitalia (meaning vagina or vulva) and is at risk of harm from these practices and procedures – intersex, non-binary, trans men and women with or without a gender recognition certificate – are included and protected by legislation.

With regards to virginity testing and hymenoplasty, as with other forms of so called ‘honour-based’ abuse, these practices often take place behind closed doors, in highly conservative communities and cultures. Because of this, the numbers of women and girls that are subjected to these practices are not known.   Women and girls and any other person who has female genitalia (meaning vagina or vulva) and is at risk of harm from these practices and procedures – intersex, non-binary, trans men and women with or without a gender recognition certificate – are included and protected by legislation.

If you need to seek independent advice about specific religious/cultural/faith issues, you can can access this guide- Guides to Culture, Customs and Etiquette for 80+ Countries (commisceo-global.com. Alternatively you can contact helplines such as Karma Nirvana or Iranian, Kurdish Women’s Right Organisation. Support is also available from Reunite, an organisation which supports parents and children who have experienced or at risk of international child abduction.

As a potential section 47 children act investigation, every incident involving a child must generate strategy discussion between police, children’s social care and the referrer as soon as practicable (and in any case within 24 hours)

If a joint section 47 investigation is agreed, a further strategy meeting will take place within 72 hours. Health professionals working with the family such as GP, Health Visitor or school nurse and Education should also be invited.

The investigation should be subject to regular reviews as set out in force policy. This should include consultation with partner agencies, particularly Children’s Social Care to discuss the outcome and address any further protective steps that need to be taken with regards to that child and any other siblings/family members.

See also Honour-based abuse: Advice for first responders (college.police.uk)