Honour‑based violence and oppression – On disability, virginity requirements, and heteronormativity

People with disabilities can be particularly vulnerable to honour-based violence and oppression. This specific vulnerability may, among other things, stem from a particularly strong position of dependence on the perpetrator or perpetrators. Research has identified the following factors that can explain this specific vulnerability in people with disabilities: dependence, invisibility, and vulnerability. These factors interact with other variables such as socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, age, and the degree of disability. In order to end honour-based violence and abuse against children, young people, and adults with disabilities, and to ensure that appropriate support and protection can be provided by responsible public agencies, more organisations need greater knowledge, proper working methods, and practices to prevent, detect, investigate, and provide adequate support to victims of honour-based violence and oppression. 

Drawing on their combined knowledge and experience of conducting research on honour-based violence and oppression within the field of social work, the Swedish Agency for Participation (MFD) has commissioned Siv-Britt Björktomta, PhD in Social Work and qualified social worker at the Department of Social Work, Uppsala University, and Helén Olsson, PhD in Health Sciences, qualified social worker and Associate Professor of Social Work at the Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, to carry out the qualitative study.