Durham Student Halo Article - May 2024

Durham Student Halo Hub Newsletter Durham Student Halo Hub

May2024

Introduction

WelcometoDurhamUniversity’s HaloHubNewsletter2024. The Halohubisastudent-ledbranch oftheHaloProject,acharitythat raisesawarenessofhatecrimes andillegalharmfulpractices, includingforcedmarriage,female genitalmutilation,andhonourbasedviolence,toprotectthose fromBAMEcommunitiesatrisk.

Ournewsletteraimstocoverthese issuesandthoserelatedtoitto spreadawarenessonthem.This editionwillfeaturesevenarticles predominantlycoveringdomestic violenceandabuseandforced marriage.Theseissuesare particularlyheinousandcover sensitiveandemotionaltopics.

Wewillalsohave ourfinalpage discusstheeventsthehubin Durhamheldlasttermtohighlight theinputbythestudents.

Formoreupdatesandinformation ontheworkofourhub,please followourInstagram: @durhamstudenthalo

In This Issue:

KeyCaseStudies ofHonourBased Abuse

TheCurrentLaws SurroundingFGM intheUK

Honour-based abusefollowing theCovid-19 pandemic

Colonialroots withinthese practicesof genderviolence

TheMedicalisation ofFGM

TheDifference betweenForced Marriagesand Arranged marriages

Genderbased violence-male victimsandtheir perspective

OurWorkLast Term

Key Case Studies of Honour Based Abuse Key Case Studies of Honour Based Abuse

Samisri Pyakuryal

TulayGoren

Tulay was a 15 year old girl from North London, who was murdered in January 1999 for running away from home to live with her boyfriend Her boyfriend was a Turkish Kurd, double her age, whom her family disapprovedof ThiswasbecausehewasfromadifferentbranchofIslam Tulay’sfatherwasimprisonedfor life in 2009 for killing Tulay after kidnapping, drugging and tying her up Her remains have never been recovered

SurjitAthwal

Surjit was a 27 year old woman who disappeared after attending a family wedding in India in December 1998 Hermother-in-laworderedforSurjittobekilledafterlearningthatshehadbeenhavinganaffairand subsequently, wanted to divorce her son Following the murder, her mother-in-law was ordered to spend minimum20yearsinjail,andSurjit’shusband,aminimumof27years

SamairaNazir

Samaira, a 25 year old woman died after she tried to escape her family home after an argument with her familybecausetheywantedhertomarryanAfghanasylumseeker Herbrotherdraggedherbackintothe housewhereheandtheircousinworkedtogethertoholdherandstabhertodeath Herthroatwascutand shewasstabbed18timesintheattack,whichoccurredinApril2005 Thekillersweregivenlifesentences

AhmedBashir

Ahmed was a 21 year old man who was attacked in his house in West London with a sword and machete WaseemAfsarandNisarKhanstabbedandslashed43times,in1996,forbeinginarelationshipwithAfsar’s sister Themenweregivenlifesentencesin2005

AbdullahandAyshaMohammed

Abdullah and his wife, Aysha, died after they were overcome by smoke and fumes at their home in Lancashire in an “honour” killing Four men firebombed their house in an attempt to kill a Muslim man who was having an affair with a married woman, but poured petrol through the wrong letterbox All four were convictedofthedoublemurderinAugust2010

AwaisAkram

Awaiswasa25yearoldmanwhowasbeatenandstabbedbeforeconcentratedsulphuricacidwaspoured over his head, leaving him with 47% burns in July 2009 He was left severely disfigured after being attacked becauseofarelationshipwithamarriedwomanonFacebook.Thewoman’sbrotherwasjailedfor30years inMay2010forconspiracytomurder

ShafileaAhmed

Shafilea was a young girl who was murdered by her parents in 2003 because she refused to enter into a forcedmarriage

The current laws surrounding FGM in the UK The current laws surrounding FGM in the UK

Lydia Chandy

FemaleGenitalMutilation(FGM)hasbeenillegalintheUKsince1985viathe ProhibitionofFemaleCircumcisionAct1985whichinitiallyallowedforsentences ofuptofiveyears’imprisonmentwhenFGMwasfoundintheUK.However,this wasrepealedandreplacedbytheFemaleGenitalMutilationAct2003which extendedthelegislationtocoveractscommittedbyUKnationalsoutsideofthe UK’sbordersorprocurethecarryingoutofFGMabroad,evenwhereFGMislegal. Anypersonwhoisguiltyofsections1,2or3ofthe2003Act(whichwillbe explainedfurther)couldfaceupto14years’imprisonment,afineorboth.

The2003Actcriminalisesfemalegenitalmutilation(FGM)undersection1, definingitastheexcisionormutilationofagirl'sorwoman'slabiamajora,labia minora,orclitoris,exceptfornecessarysurgicalproceduresperformedby registeredmedicalpractitioners..InadditiontobeinganoffenceforaUKnational toperformFGMoutsidetheUK,itisalsoanoffencetoassistagirltocarryoutFGM onherselfinEnglandandWales(section2)orassistanon-UKpersontocarryout FGMoutsidetheUKonaUKresident(section3).Section3Agoesfurtherand makesitanoffencetofailtoprotectagirl,specificallytargetingindividualswith parentalresponsibility.fromtheriskofgenitalmutilationwhichshowsthe government’sstanceonholdingallthoseaccountablewhofailedtoprovide adequateprotectiontogirlsinsuchapredicament.ViolatorsofSection3Aface upto7years'imprisonment,afine,orboth.VictimsofFGMareguaranteed anonymity(section4AandallowsthemtoseekFGMProtectionOrders(section 5A),whichcanincludemeasureslikesurrenderingpassportstopreventoverseas FGM.

AllofthishighlightstheseriousnessofFGMintheUK.However,whenreadingthe 2014reportbytheHomeAffairsCommitteewhichputforwardvariousreformsin thisarea,manyoftheseneedtobeenactedtoprovidefurtherprotectionforFGM victims.Forexample,section3onlyprotectsUKnationalsorpermanentUK residentsmeaningthiscreatedaloopholetofailtoprotectgirlswithdifferent residencystatusfromundergoingFGM.Forexample,girlswhoseparentshave temporaryresidencystatus,suchasrefugeesorstudents,wouldnotbecovered underthelegislation.Additionally,section1’sexceptiontomedicallynecessary vaginalprocedurescreatesaloopholethatpotentiallyallowsmedical practitionersintheprivatecosmeticindustrytoconductFGMwithimpunity.These areonlyafewloopholesthatthecurrentlawhascreatedsobyextendingthe protectionstonon-permanentUKresidentsandrestrictingtheproceduresthat couldoccurintheprivatecosmeticindustrywouldbebeneficialinpreventing FGMongirls.

Thus,whilstthelawdoesofferprotections,furtheringthesewouldstrengthenthe protectionsandlessentheriskofgirlsandwomenbeingsubjecttoFGM.

SrishtiRakhechai

AmidstthechaosanddevastationwroughtbytheCOVID-19pandemic,asilentpandemichad beenstealthilycreepingintotheshadowsofoursociety–domesticviolence,dubbedthe"shadow pandemic"byUNWomen.Thiswasn'tlimitedtojustphysicaloremotionalabuse,reportsalso indicatedarisein"honour-based"abuse(HBA)duringlockdownsandsocialisolation.Whilethe pandemiccommandedtheworld'sattention,theinsidiousphenomenonofhonour-basedabuse witnessedaconcerningsurge,leavingvictimsisolated,traumatised,andoftenunheard.

Honour-basedabuse,oftenrootedincultural,religious,ortraditionalnorms,manifestsinvarious forms,includingforcedmarriage,femalegenitalmutilation(FGM),physicalandemotional violence,andevenmurder,allinthenameofpreservingfamilialorcommunityhonour Victims, predominantlywomenandgirls,endureunimaginablesufferingundertheguiseoftraditionand societalexpectations,withperpetratorswieldingcontrolanddominationovereveryaspectoftheir lives Thepandemicexacerbatedthesedynamics,amplifyingexistingvulnerabilitiesandproviding perpetratorswithnewavenuesforcoercion,control,andabuse.

Astheworldgrappledwiththeunprecedentedchallengesposedbythepandemic,lockdown measuresandsocialrestrictionsinadvertentlycreatedfertilegroundfortheescalationofhonourbasedabuse.Studiesshowthatwithfamiliesconfinedtotheirhomes,victimsfoundthemselves trappedinclosequarterswiththeirabusers,cutofffromvitalsupportnetworksandavenuesof escape.Theisolationanduncertaintybroughtaboutbythepandemicservedasabreeding groundforabuse,withperpetratorsexploitingthechaosandfeartoexertevengreatercontrol overtheirvictims.

Moreover,theeconomicfalloutofthepandemicfurthercompoundedtheplightofvictims,leaving manyfinanciallydependentontheirabusersanddevoidofthemeanstoseekhelporfleeabusive situations.Joblosses,financialinstability,andhousinginsecurityleftvictimswithfewoptionsand littlehopeforescape,effectivelytrappingthemincyclesofabuse WhiledatacollectiononHBAis complex,theexperiencesofsupportservicespaintaconcerningpicture.

Countrieswitnessedariseinthenumberofcasesofviolenceagainstwomenwhichmainly manifestedintheformofdomesticabuseandabusebyfamilymembersduringthepandemic. Thisheinousbehaviourleftamarkinalmosteverycorneroftheworld.Whilechallengingto quantifyduetounder-reporting,organisationssupportingsurvivorssawasignificantincreasein callsduringthepandemic.

KarmaNirvana,theUK'snationalhonourabusehelpline,reporteda200%riseincallsduringthe earlymonthsoflockdown,atimetypicallyconsideredlowseason.Thissuggestsaheightened vulnerabilityforvictimstrappedathomewiththeirabusers Similartrendswereobservedby Women'sAid,aleadingdomesticviolencecharity,whichnotedanincreaseincallsaboutHBA alongsideotherformsofabuse.CountrieslikeBangladeshrecordedmorecasesofviolence againstwomenhandledinthefirst10monthsof2020comparedto2019,inBangladesh Suggestingthatinstancesofviolenceagainstwomenincreasedduringthelockdownperiod.Iran ontheotherhandhadalwayshadahighrecordofhonour-basedabuseasabout20percentof allmurdersand50percentoffamilymurderswererelatedtosexualandhonourissues,however duetothepovertythatfollowedafterthepandemic,thenumberofcasesincreasedevenmore.

ThepandemicexacerbatedtheriskfactorsassociatedwithHBA Lockdownsrestrictedmovement, makingitharderforvictimstoseekhelporescapeabusivesituations.Schoolclosuresalsolimited apotentialescaperouteandsupportnetworkforyoungpeopleatrisk Financialstrainduetothe pandemiccouldhavefurtherincreasedtensionswithinfamilies,creatingavolatileenvironment forvictims.

Whiletheyearsaffectedbythepandemicwillgodowninthepagesofhistory,theonesthat sufferedadifferenttormentinitswakewillremainunheardof.Thepandemicmayhavenot createdthemonstersbutitdidcageinpeoplewiththeirs Behindthosecloseddoorswhere nobodycouldhearthepleasandtheprayers,escapewasadistantdream.Therestrictionsof Covid-19weremeanttokeeppeoplesafebutintheend,endedupexposingthemtoadifferent kindofthreat

Colonialism and Gender Based Violence Colonialism and Gender Based Violence

Nargis Babar

ResearchfromUCLestimatesthatcountrieshistoricallyundercolonialismare50timesmorelikelytohavea highprevalenceofintimatepartnerviolenceagainstwomen Thispatternalsolargelyemergesoutsidethe domesticcontextaswell Sohowexactlydoesthelegacyofcolonialismperpetuategender-basedviolence today?

Colonialismhastakenmanyformsacrosseverycontinent Butatitscore,itinvolvesexploitation,dominance andcontrol Tounderstandhowcolonialismplaysaroleingender-basedviolence,it’sworthconsideringsome examplesthroughouthistoryandtodemonstratetheirlastingimpact

Aboriginal,NativeAmericanandSamiwomen,amongstotherindigenouscommunities,facesomeofthe highestratesofgender-basedviolence Thisseemssurprising,giventhatmanyindigenouscommunities historicallydidnotnaturallymirrorthepatriarchalstructureofWesternsociety Instead,manyofthese conceptshavebeentransposedontodifferentculturesthroughcolonialism

Massacres,forceddisplacementanddiscriminationhavealsoplaguedindigenouspopulationsatthehandsof colonialsettlersforcenturies,resultinginwidespreadtraumaacrossgenerations Thistraumacanresultin heightenedriskofdomesticviolencewithinthecommunity,whichremainseveniffamiliesmovetoother countries Thistherebyperpetuatesacycleofgender-basedabuse

Wealsocannotforgetthatthissystemofoppressionhasledtoviolenceagainstindigenouswomenbynonindigenousmen,whodevaluethembasedonthesystemicideathatindigenouswomendeserveless protectionandaresomehowinferior Thisisacommonthemeacrosspost-colonialstates

Similarly,gender-discriminationandviolencehasbeenakeyfeatureofcolonialstrategy.Japanese imperialists,forinstance,rapedwomenaspartofanonslaughtofviolenceintheNanjingMassacre.TheBritish alsorefusedtoengagewithfemalechiefs,whotookonmanyleadershippositionsinpre-colonialNigeria.This colonialsentimenthasspurredontheideathatwomenareresourcestoexploitandtoassertsocial dominance.Forinstance,akeyfeatureoftheRwandangenocidewastherapeandtortureofwomenofone tribeagainstanother,stemmingfromadividethatwasstrategicallyorchestratedbytheBelgiancolonial government.

Povertyandinstabilityarecommonfeaturesplaguingpost-colonialstates,whichalsoperpetuatesgenderviolenceandexploitation India,PakistanandnumerousotherstatespreviouslypartoftheIndianSubcontinent, havehadtorebuildaneconomyafterhavingtheirresourcesplunderedundercolonialrule Thiseconomic turmoilmeansthatlabourbecameacentralfocus,ratherthaneducation Therefore,manywomenandmen remainuneducatedandthusperpetuatethegenderrolesundercolonialrule,resultinginhighratesof domesticviolenceandwomenfeelingtrappedintheircommunitiesandmarriages

Colonialismisalsonotlimitedtothetypicalcontextofthepastthatweoftenimagine Thepatternsof exploitationfoundedthroughcolonialismstillexisttoday Forinstance,thoughnotapost-colonialstate, Thailandhasaboomingsex-tourismindustry ManyEuropeanandAmericantouristsexploitthegapsinthe legalsystemandwomen’sdesperationtosexuallyassaultandmistreatwomen,includingchildrenwhocannot consent Thisperpetuatesgender-basedviolenceandalsocreatesamodernformofexploitation,whichoften goesunnoticed

Colonialismthusplaysabigroleinperpetuatinggender-basedviolenceacrosstheglobe Soitiscrucialthat westayeducatedontheseissuesandrecognisetheintersectionalityofgender-basedviolenceto fundamentallyandmeaningfullychangethedetrimentalcultureofabusethatexiststoday

Medicalisation of FGM Medicalisation of FGM

Naomi Lawal

WhatitmeanstomedicaliseFemaleGenitalmutilationistheengagementofhealthcare professionalsinthecuttingprocedure,oftenutilizingmedicaltools,anaesthesia,and antisepticstoreduceimmediaterisks Theconceptofmedicalisationcarriessignificant implicationsforunderstandingandaddressingFGMpractices.Theinvolvementof healthcareprofessionalscaneasilyallowustoassumesafetyandhygiene.However,it mayhighlighttheextremeoutcomesofsuchpractice,movingtowardsabandoningthe procedurealtogether.

Thetermmedicalisationimpliestheintegrationofmedicalpractices.Itisimportanttopay equalattentiontotheideathatuntrainedindividuals,inregionswithstrainedhealthcare systemsandshortagesoftrainedprofessionals,areabletocarryoutsuchprocedures undertheguiseof‘medicalcare’,ofteninwayswheremedicalprofessionalsconductreinfibulation,there-closureofpreviouslyde-infibulatedexternalgenitaliatofacilitate sexualintercourse,childbirth,orothergynaecologicalprocedures.

ArecentanalysisfromShelletal(2017)displayed25countries,revealingvaryingratesof medicalizationoffemalegenitalmutilation.ThehighestrateswerefoundinEgypt(38%), Sudan(67%),Guinea(15%),Kenya(15%),andNigeria(13%).Colonialgovernmentsin regionslikeSudanandKenyaattemptedtoregulateFemaleGenitalMutilationby imposingrestrictionsonthetypeofcuttingallowed However,theseeffortsfaced significantresistancefromcommunitiesadheringtolongstandingculturaltraditions, increasingtensionbetweenauthoritiesandthepublic.Perhapswhatcouldbeaddedhere isthatthedecisionofhealthcareprofessionalstoperformFGMisofteninfluencedby sharedsocialnormswithintheircommunities,makingitchallengingtoresistpressureor demandfromthecommunity ThemedicalisationofFGMcommunicatesthatsuch practiceisacceptable,whendone“safely”.

Theuseofmedicalinstrumentsraisescomplexethicalandpracticalquestionsregarding themedicalisationofthepractice.InGuinea,thetransitionfromtraditionalinstrumentsto sterilerazorbladesforFGMproceduresisattributedtoincreasingmedicalizationefforts andsensitizationcampaigns,whereasinNigeria,employingtheuseofantiseptics,artery forceps,surgicalscissorsorblades,cottonwool,andantibiotics,mirrorstheapproach seeninmedicalsettings.

Medicalisationisconflatedwithsafetyandblursthetruenatureofthepractice,Female GenitalMutilationcanneverbe“safe,”andlacksanymedicaljustification.Itbegsthe question:Harmreductionorhumanrightsabuse?Onlybyconfrontingtherealityofsuch practicescanweeffectivelyprotestforthepreservationofhumandignityandequality

Gender Based Violence: Male Victims and Their Perspective

Gender Based Violence: Male Victims and Their Perspective

Mariam Hussain

In the discourse surrounding honour-based violence and forced marriages, the focus often gravitates towards female victims. However, it's crucial to acknowledge that men can and do also fall victim to these heinous practices with approximately 22% of UK honourabusecasesandforcedmarriagesinvolvingmalevictims

Honour-basedviolencereferstoactsperpetratedagainstindividuals,typicallybyfamily members,toupholdperceivedculturalorfamilialhonour.Thisviolencecanmanifestin various forms, including physical abuse, emotional manipulation, confinement, and even murder. Similarly, forced marriages entail coercing individuals into marriages againsttheirwill,oftendisregardingtheirautonomy,desires,andconsent.

Male victims of honour-based violence and forced marriages encounter unique challenges rooted in societal norms, gender expectations, and the stigma surrounding masculinity. Their narratives are frequently silenced or dismissed, perpetuating the misconception that only women are subjected to such atrocities and that male involvement in these crimes is voluntary by default The reluctance to acknowledge male victimhood stems from entrenched gender stereotypes and the belief that men are immune to these societal pressures which manipulates both men and women who fearbreakingthetoxiccycle.

Male victims face immense pressure to conform to rigid gender roles, which often dictate silence in the face of abuse to avoid appearing weak or emasculated. Societal perceptionsofmasculinityequatevictimhoodwithshame,compoundingthereluctance of male survivors to seek help or disclose their experiences. Moreover, the lack of awarenessandsupportservicestailoredtomalevictimsexacerbatestheirisolationand impedes their access to assistance Education plays a pivotal role in debunking misconceptions and raising awareness about the prevalence of these abuses and by amplifying male survivors' voices and narratives, society can dismantle the pervasive notionthatvulnerabilitydiminishesmasculinity.

Malevictimsofhonour-basedviolenceandforcedmarriagesrepresentamarginalised and often overlooked demographic whose voices deserve to be heard. By amplifying their perspectives, challenging stereotypes, and fostering inclusive support systems, society can dismantle the barriers that perpetuate their silence and marginalisation. Empoweringmalesurvivorstoreclaimtheiragencyandaccessresourcesisessentialin fosteringhealing,resilience,andmeaningfulsocialchange.

Our Work Last Term Our Work Last Term

Ojasvi Chugh

On12thFebruary2024,wehostedthe‘GalentinesPaintnSip’eventwhereinstudentssippedalcoholicandnonalcoholicbeveragesandpaintedoncanvas,whilstsimultaneouslyinteractingwithmembersfromtheDurham HaloProject ThisallowedstudentstolearnmoreabouttheHaloProject,andtheworkthatwedo,inaninformal setting Theeventwasveryrelaxing,amuch-neededchangefromthehectic,career-orientedlivesofstudents Students painted a range of things- flowers, animals, and sceneries, which allowed them to showcase their artisticprowess Attheendofthenight,thewinnerwasdecidedandawardedbytheteam

Besides being an enjoyable event, this ‘Galentines’ event was an empowering one, celebrating the strength of womanhood Importantly, it helped us raise awareness of issues like female genital mutilation, honour-based violence,andforcedmarriages,whichtheHaloProjectaddresses Eventually,weweresuccessfulinraising£114 throughsignups,andattractednewmemberstojoinourprojectnextyear

Another critical event was our visit to the Halo Project Charity on 21st February 2024 We were privileged to join the Halo Charity team in their office in Middleborough. We had the opportunity to hear about case studies on femalegenitalmutilation,honour-basedviolence,andforcedmarriagesfromcaseworkers.Thesecasestudies gaveusanincredibleinsightintotheworkthattheHaloCharitydoesforvictims,includingorganisinghousing, dealing with victims’ trauma, as well as coordinating with the police and lawyers We also interacted with victimsandheardtheirstories,whichwasanextremelyharrowingandeye-openingexperience

In the latter half of the day, we had the opportunity to visit the accommodation block for victims We saw the exceptionalamenitiesthattheHaloCharityprovidesforvictims,includingyoungchildren.Wealsolearntabout theunmatchedsafetymeasuresthattheHaloCharityimplementstoensurethatthevictimsarenottracedby perpetrators.

Overall,itwasanextraordinary,albeitextremelyemotionalexperience Welearntfirst-handabouttheworkthat the Halo Charity does and the wide-ranging impact of this work on the lives of victims It also made us realise howourmicrolevelcontributionattheUniversity level, also has such a tangible impression on the lives of victims. Events like this truly push us to work even harderandraisemoreawarenessoftheseissues.