Royston Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Royston Smith on 2016-04-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to prevent the practice of breast ironing in UK communities.

Karen Bradley

Breast ironing is a form of so called ‘honour-based’ violence (HBV) and this Government is clear that political or cultural sensitivities must not get in the way of preventing and uncovering practices like breast ironing. No one should suffer because of who they are or which community they are born into.

As set out in the Government’s new Violence against Women and Girls Strategy, we will continue to challenge the cultural attitudes that may underpin harmful practices, and ensure professionals have the confidence to confront these issues, safeguard victims and bring perpetrators to justice.

Where breast ironing is practised on girls it is child abuse and should be treated as such by all frontline professionals. The clear legal frameworks that apply to child abuse apply to breast ironing.