This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/7004674.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ethnic domestic violence 'hidden' Ethnic domestic violence 'hidden'
(4 days later)
Forced marriage and domestic violence in Wales's black and ethnic communities are much bigger problems than official figures show, it is claimed.Forced marriage and domestic violence in Wales's black and ethnic communities are much bigger problems than official figures show, it is claimed.
Delegates at a conference in Swansea working on a new action plan to tackle the issues were told many crimes went unreported or families hushed them up.Delegates at a conference in Swansea working on a new action plan to tackle the issues were told many crimes went unreported or families hushed them up.
About 300 people, many from the legal system and social services, attended.About 300 people, many from the legal system and social services, attended.
It came a day after a west London woman who ordered the "honour killing" of her daughter-in-law was jailed for life.It came a day after a west London woman who ordered the "honour killing" of her daughter-in-law was jailed for life.
Bachan Athwal, 70, and her son Sukhdave, 43, both of Hayes, west London, arranged the murder of Surjit Athwal, 27, who vanished during a trip to India in 1998, and were jailed by a judge at the Old Bailey.Bachan Athwal, 70, and her son Sukhdave, 43, both of Hayes, west London, arranged the murder of Surjit Athwal, 27, who vanished during a trip to India in 1998, and were jailed by a judge at the Old Bailey.
The case was one of many discussed at Thursday's conference, organised by the Safer Swansea Partnership.The case was one of many discussed at Thursday's conference, organised by the Safer Swansea Partnership.
Official figures for the Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot area show last year there were 37 reported incidents of black and minority ethnic women fleeing or suffering domestic abuse. Fourteen were victims of forced marriage and seven of "honour" based abuse.Official figures for the Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot area show last year there were 37 reported incidents of black and minority ethnic women fleeing or suffering domestic abuse. Fourteen were victims of forced marriage and seven of "honour" based abuse.
But Jasvinder Sanghera, who ran away from home at the age of 16 to avoid an arranged marriage and founded the Karma Nirvana refuge for Asian women, said the problem was likely to be on a far bigger scale.But Jasvinder Sanghera, who ran away from home at the age of 16 to avoid an arranged marriage and founded the Karma Nirvana refuge for Asian women, said the problem was likely to be on a far bigger scale.
The challenge you face is to give them the confidence to come forward Jasvinder SangheraThe challenge you face is to give them the confidence to come forward Jasvinder Sanghera
"Your biggest challenge will be getting to the victims," she said."Your biggest challenge will be getting to the victims," she said.
"There is certainly evidence of underreporting - the challenge you face is to give them the confidence to come forward.""There is certainly evidence of underreporting - the challenge you face is to give them the confidence to come forward."
She said in her case her family, and her mother in particular, made her feel immense guilt as if she had brought shame upon them all for not agreeing to go ahead with a pre-arranged marriage.She said in her case her family, and her mother in particular, made her feel immense guilt as if she had brought shame upon them all for not agreeing to go ahead with a pre-arranged marriage.
"She told me she couldn't walk the streets - people spat at her. It's happening in Swansea - it's happening in Wales.""She told me she couldn't walk the streets - people spat at her. It's happening in Swansea - it's happening in Wales."
"Premeditated""Premeditated"
Dr Aisha Gill, a senior lecturer in criminology who specialises in violence against women in ethnic communities, said cultural norms meant women could be at risk of violence for dating someone their family disapproved of, refusing a pre-arranged marriage or even dressing in an "inappropriate" manner. Dr Aisha Gill, a senior lecturer in criminology who specialises in violence against women in black and ethnic minority communities, said cultural norms related to honour codes meant women could be at risk of violence. During her address she said that this could happen because women had relationships their families disapproved of or because they had refused an arranged marriage.
If a daughter - even of primary school age - was seen to be disobeying her family then it was seen in some communities as a source of shame for the whole family, she explained. She said a family's honour could be dependent on the behaviour of a daughter.
"What masquerades as honour is really men's needs to control women - women as seen as commodities and not as human beings." "What masquerades as 'honour' is really men's need to control women's sexuality and their freedom."
She said it crossed ethnic classes, religious lines and even gender. Violence against women included forced marriages and child marriages - girls as young as 11 were involved in arranged marriages, she told the conference.
In the most extreme cases it resulted in so-called "honour killings," like that of Surjit Athwal. Dr Gill said that family "honour" killings cut across ethnic, class, and religious lines, though it was important to say that they occurred despite religion, rather than because of it. Victims were usually women but sometimes men.
She said there were no reliable statistics, as often women were simply reported missing or abducted to a foreign country before being murdered but the UK government acknowledged there were at least 12 deaths a year. She said there were no reliable statistics about these killings, as often women were simply reported missing or abducted to a foreign country before being murdered. But the UK government acknowledged there were at least 12 deaths a year.
"Family honour killings are mostly premeditated killings in the name of restoring a family's reputation [with the wider community]," she added. The conference heard that family "honour" killings were most commonly a premeditated murder of a woman by a family member or members, in the name of restoring the family's social reputation.