Honour Abuse Research Matrix (HARM)

Institute of Criminal, Legal and Social Justice (ICLSJ)

Honour Abuse Research Matrix (HARM) is the first and only international, multi-disciplinary research network focused on so-called ‘honour’-based abuse, violence and killing, forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and other under-researched and often misunderstood forms of domestic abuse.

About

HARM network convenes researchers, experts by experience, charities, practitioners, and policymakers from various disciplines and across sectors, with the aim of developing novel and practical ways to understand, explain, and respond to the problem of domestic abuse and homicide, including ‘honour’ abuse, forced marriage and FGM.

  • Research-based policy innovation
  • Evidence-based training and education
  • Awareness, advocacy and activism

HARM is a dynamic, international knowledge-exchange agency that facilitates meaningful conversations, knowledge acquisition and peer engagement, fostering original interdisciplinary research, research-based policy innovation, training, and awareness programmes that put the voice of the survivor at the centre.

We are working with our worldwide membership to build a society that ensures equality and freedom from abuse for all.

"I think HARM is a really brilliant idea, it is a fantastic project that I'm proud to be associated with."

Dexter Dias, QC (Award Winning Human Rights Barrister)

HARM network is moving

We will be accepting new members in May 2024. Follow @HARMnetwork on X (formerly known as Twitter) for updates.

Read founder’s statement by Dr Roxanne Khan

When I founded HARM, in 2018, I had one goal. That is to unite researchers, practitioners, and experts-by-experience in a mission to develop strategies to eliminate ‘honour’-based abuse and forced marriage

What is ‘honour’-based abuse?

HARM network broadly adopts the Crown Prosecution Service definition of ‘Honour’-based abuse (HBA) 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.

Our members

HARM has over 300 members worldwide. Our diverse network encompasses local, national, and international members from academia, the police and other emergency services and first-responders, crime scene investigators, legal professionals, government advisors, the Civil Service, NGOs and support organisations, social services and safeguarding professionals, survivors, activists and students.

Ambassadors

Training and consulting

HARM develops practitioner-led, survivor-informed honour abuse training courses based on the best available current research.

This innovative approach, and increased communication and interaction between the spheres of research, practice, and expertise-by-experience, means that our tailored courses offer effective training solutions and continuing professional development CPD for organisations.

Training

  • Domestic Abuse and Homicide
  • ‘Honour’ Abuse and Forced Marriage
  • Child Abuse

Consultancy: Research and Project Work

  • Criminal Justice
  • Safeguarding Policy and Practice
  • Domestic Homicide Review Chair and Author services
  • Programme Evaluations

To find out more about HARM network’s training and consultancy, please contact the HARM team by email.

Conferences and events

For details of current and planned HARM network events, please subscribe to our newsletter: Contact HARMnetwork@uclan.ac.uk

Study

Research Degree enquiries welcome. If you would like to do a PhD or MSc with Dr Khan, please contact her directly rkhan2@uclan.ac.uk

Nazir Afzal Essay Competition

The annual Nazir Afzal Essay Competition, organised by HARM network, is named after British solicitor and former Chief Crown Prosecutor Nazir Afzal OBE who, during a 25 year career, has prosecuted some of the most high profile cases in the country, and led nationally on numerous legal topics including violence against women and girls, child sexual abuse, and honour based violence.

Enter the competition

Commissioners and funders

Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), charities, local and national government, and other research funding bodies; Are you looking to commission high-quality research to inform your policies and practices?

  • Qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method social research
  • Community-based participatory research (CBPR)
  • Programme evaluation
  • Plain English reporting
  • Targeted dissemination
  • Educational events and evidence-based learning

HARM is a diverse community of researchers, practitioners and experts-by-experience, with a demonstrable track record of delivering research and learning in the areas of violence and aggression, criminal justice, and health.

To commission research or invite HARM to tender, please contact HARMnetwork@uclan.ac.uk

Press and media

We are always happy to work with journalists around the world to share compelling stories about our research and innovations. If you’re a member of the media and would like to talk, please email us at HARMnetwork@uclan.ac.uk

Help, Support and Advice

Emergency

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for Police.