Our thanks to Jeff and others for this piece on the BBC. There will be a report in tonight’s Newsnight. An extract from the article:
Charities are sounding the alarm over what they say is the underreported issue of male “honour” abuse victims.
Honour abuse is usually associated with women from Muslim, Sikh or Hindu backgrounds and happens when they are seen to have “shamed” their community.
One charity, Jeena, said that one in five cases it handles involves men.
Another, Karma Nirvana, says calls from men to its helpline are up – and this is “just the tip of the iceberg” as many are afraid to come forward.
“We have seen a rise in male victims coming forward in the last year from none to one-in-five victims. It is extremely important to create safe spaces for men to be heard and to believed,” Jenna (sic) told BBC Newsnight.
From Jeena’s Facebook page:
As one of the most prominent national non-profit organisations in the UK, we aim to empower women, [my emphasis] young people and communities – predominantly those belonging to Black, Asian Minority Ethnic and Refugee (BAMER) societies.
Hardly welcoming towards male victims, is it? Despite this, ‘one in five cases it handles involves men’. Presumably this is doublespeak for one in five victims it deals with are men.
Karma Nirvana appears more welcoming towards male victims. From their helpline page:
It does not matter if you’re 13 or 30, male or female. Whatever your age, sexuality and circumstances, we will listen and help.
If everyone who read this gave us just £1 – or even better, £1 monthly – we could change the world. Click here to make a difference. Thanks.
