This half-day course, designed by HERSANA, equips professionals with the knowledge, skills and practical strategies needed to work effectively and sensitively with survivors of Honour-Based Abuse (HBA).
HBA is not only a violation of human rights — it is a persistent and highly dangerous form of gender-based violence that often involves multiple perpetrators, extended family networks and ongoing threats to life.
This training moves beyond recognising HBA to focus on what happens after disclosure or identification. Participants will explore UK legal frameworks, safeguarding duties and survivor-led best practice for safety planning, advocacy, and long-term recovery.
Through real-world scenarios and survivor-informed insights, the session addresses the cultural, familial and community pressures that survivors may continue to face and provides tools to support them without reinforcing harmful stereotypes.
What you need to know
What will I learn?
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
- Understand the UK legal context and safeguarding requirements for responding to HBA, including relevant criminal offences and multi-agency risk assessment.
- Recognise the ongoing risks, coercion and community pressure survivors may experience after escaping or resisting HBA.
- Apply trauma-informed, culturally competent approaches that protect survivor dignity and agency.
- Navigate complex family and community dynamics while maintaining clear safeguarding boundaries.
- Identify safe intervention and support strategies tailored to survivor circumstances and sector-specific responsibilities.
- Develop effective safety plans, referral processes and long-term recovery pathways.
- Strengthen professional confidence in handling disclosures, documenting concerns and advocating for survivors across agencies and systems.
Who should attend?
This course is designed for professionals, frontline workers, volunteers, and service providers who may come into contact with women, girls, and young people affected by or at risk of experiencing female genital mutilation/cutting, including those working in:
How do I book a training session for my team?
Our 'Off-The-Shelf' Sessions are closed sessions, delivered to your team only. If you'd like to book this training for your team, contact us at training@hersana.org.