Voice and campaigning case study: IKWRO
Overview of IKWROIKWRO is a specialist BME-led women’s rights organisation representing women and girls from Middle Eastern, North African and Afghan (MENA) communities at risk of so-called “honour” based violence, child and forced marriage, spouse abandonment, marital captivity, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and domestic violence. IKWRO tackles violence against women and girls holistically, through:
- Direct work with women and girls
-IKWRO opened the UK’s first specialist MENA refuge in 2015, which now has 8 beds for single women and provides lifesaving, transformative support.
- Educating young people in schools, colleges and universities on their rights and where to get help and training public sector professionals
- Campaigning for improvements in law, policy and implementation
The voice or campaign issue to be discussed
Ending “honour” based violence and ensuring victims/ survivors are safeguarded and supported
“Honour” Based Violence (HBV) is an act (crime/ incident) predominantly perpetrated against women and girls, often collectively organised by the victim’s/survivor’s family or community, to defend their perceived honour, because it is believed that the person has done something to bring shame on the family or the community.
HBV can take many forms including; “honour” killing, forced marriage, rape (group), forced suicide, acid attack, mutilation, abduction imprisonment, beatings death threats, blackmail, emotional abuse, surveillance, harassment, disownment and forced abortion.
Scale of the issue in the UK:
IKWRO’s widely quoted research (using freedom of information requests sent to every UK police force) found that 11,744 cases were recorded in just 5 years (2010-2014). However, this is not the full picture; in2012, 1 in 5 police forces failed to properly record cases and many casesare never reported. Significantly, IKWRO’s research demonstrates that “honour” based violence is a national problem which has been recorded in every UK police force.
The challenge to be overcome
Without consulting or even notifying any of the leading NGO’s working to end so-called “honour” based violence, Nusrat Ghani, Conservative MP for Wealden, announced in the media (with extensive coverage including The Times and Telegraph) that, on that day, she was introducing a new private members Bill: the Crime (Aggravated Murder of and Violence Against Women and Girls). The Bill proposed to ban the term “honour” based violence.
“Honour” based violence and domestic violence are distinct forms of violence against women and girls, each with specific dynamics, though many women experience both. Each carries particular risks and requires different safeguarding approaches. If these forms of violence are conflated, it is highly likely that there will be failures in safeguarding, resulting in serious harm and even “honour” killing.
“Honour” based violence is a well-established term and to censor it would put at risk the significant progress that has been made, including by the first official national review of policing of “honour” based violence, which involved close consultation with specialist BME “honour” based violence women’s organisations.Significantly, survivors endorse and own the term “honour” based violence.
Nusrat Ghani’s husband is a Director of PR for Sky and so well connected to the media.When introducing the BillNusrat Ghani quoted a solicitor and a Survivor to support her proposals.
How should IKWRO oppose the bill?
Additional prompts for discussion
- Should we try to amend the Bill/ oppose it completely?
- How should we best respond in a quick timeframe?
- Did the government back the Bill?
- Even if as a private members Bill it was unlikely to succeed, should we fight it?
- IKWRO alone/ rally the sector?
- Has any group we know backed the Bill
- Petitions vs. joint letter?
- Who beyond NGO’s could we engage to back the challenge?
Actual Outcome
IKWRO arranged a joint letter signed by 66 experts and survivors explaining why the Bill would put lives at risk, and contributed a statement to an article in The Independent. The bill was withdrawn ahead of its second reading on Friday 24 March 2017.