Harmful practices are persistent behaviours and actions that constitute abuse and are a violation of human rights. They are often rooted in discrimination based on gender, age, sexuality, ethnicity, and other intersecting forms of inequality, and can result in life-long physical and psychological impacts.
Some examples of harmful practices are:
- ‘Honour’-based abuse (HBA)
- Child/forced marriage
- Female genital mutilation (FGM)
- Breast ironing/breast flattening
- Virginity testing/hymenoplasty
- Dowry payments
- Son preference
- Bride-price
- Marital captivity
- Conversion ‘therapy’/practices
- Spiritual abuse
- Sex-selective abortion
Click the link or image below to download our factsheet to learn key facts about harmful practices, who is affected, indicators and how to respond to cases, disclosures or suspected cases of harmful practices.
