Child Sexual Abuse In British South Asian Communities: �Understanding The Barrier Of Shame And Honour

The webinar/presentation explored the under-researched subject of child sexual abuse (CSA) in British South Asian communities. Hearing from victims/survivors about their experiences of CSA is important in developing practice, services, and policies, yet voices of victims/survivors from South Asian communities are sparsely documented due to disproportionately low rates of referral and limited research. ‘Cultural barriers’ and ‘shame and honour’ are often stated as barriers impeding knowledge about these experiences, but what exactly do these terms mean, and how are they acting as barriers?

The session provided a deeper understanding of these barriers, through the narratives of 15 British South Asian women who experienced CSA; encouraged practitioners to interrogate rooted narratives about such experiences and how to navigate these barriers; guided practitioners to develop greater curiosity so that practice can become more effective in supporting CSA victims/survivors from British

South Asian communities.