‘Urgent action’ needed to protect Black and minoritised women from fatal domestic abuse

Bereaved families point to ‘systemic failings that see BMM women repeatedly failed by the justice system in cases of domestic abuse that have ultimately led to murder’ (Picture: SWNS/PA)

Campaigners are calling for ‘urgent action’ to be taken to protect Black, minoritised and migrant (BMM) women from fatal domestic abuse.

A quarter of all female domestic homicide victims recorded between 2020 and 2024 were from BMM backgrounds, according to research from the Invisible Women campaign.

The figures are even more stark in London, where figures show 62% of femicide victims in 2023 were Black – despite Black women comprising only around 14% of the city’s population.

Bereaved families point to ‘systemic failings that see BMM women repeatedly failed by the justice system in cases of domestic abuse that have ultimately led to murder’.

Campaign groups Killed Women and Southall Black Sisters have written to the prime minister ahead of publication of the government’s long-awaited violence against women and girls strategy.

Their letter, also signed by seven bereaved families, demands ‘urgent action’ on how it will ‘address the failures identified and protect Black, minoritised and migrant women from lethal violence’.

It adds: ‘These are not isolated incidents or tragedies, but patterns that reveal systemic racism, discrimination and state neglect.’

In a reply, Sir Keir Starmer said he ‘fully recognises the gravity of the issues you have raised and the urgent need for action to protect BMM women from violence’.

He added that he had ‘asked the Home Secretary to review your report and letter as a matter of urgency’.

A Home Office Spokesperson said: ‘We recognise the serious concerns raised in this report and share the commitment to ensuring that all women and girls receive equal protection and support.

‘Our upcoming strategy will set out transformative plans to halve violence against women and girls.’

The report, titled ‘Invisible Women Made Visible’, highlights the fact that BMM women are disproportionately affected by intimate partner homicides and yet they face the hardest barriers.

Families left behind say abuse is too often ignored or not taken seriously, while investigations after that abuse turns fatal are deemed too slow or inadequate.

The police are frequently identified as the statutory agency failing families the most.

In several cases examined in the report, officers had prior knowledge of the perpetrator’s abusive history – but did not use it when considering the risks victims were in.

One family described how their loved one made repeated calls for protection, but none were logged, linked or flagged as a potential safeguarding issue.

Others recounted concerns their relative was treated differently because of her race, age, sex and class.

In 2021, pregnant Fawziyah Javed, 31, died when she was pushed from Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh by her husband after she decided to leave the marriage.

In 2021, pregnant Fawziyah Javed, 31, died when she was pushed from Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh by her husband (Picture: Yasmin Javed/SWNS)

Her mother Yasmin Javed said: ‘They reassessed Fawziyah and regraded her to high risk, and that was never communicated to Fawziyah.

‘I called the police again to report further abuse, and this time Fawziyah told the police officer, “look, I’m pregnant, I’m going to leave”.

‘Why didn’t they go and arrest him? They couldn’t even get the basics right.’

West Yorkshire Police, which dealt with the complaints, previously said it would look to ‘identify any lessons to be learned about the way in which agencies work to safeguard victims of domestic abuse, how agencies will respond to any lessons, and how agencies can improve their response to prevent domestic homicides’.

Metro has contacted the force for further comment.

Banaz Mahmod had been to the police five times in the 14 weeks leading up to her murder, even giving them a list of the men who would go on to kill her.

Her sister Bekhal Mahmod said: ‘Police knew the situation because I asked them for help.

‘It’s OK to not know other people’s culture, but you need to admit what you’ve done wrong and learn from it.’

Banaz Mahmod had been to the police five times in the 14 weeks leading up to her murder

Bakhal has campaigned for Banaz’s Law, which would ensure that ‘honour’-based abuse is explicitly recognised as an aggravating factor in sentencing.

She said: ‘How many women are going to have to lose their lives for government to listen and make a change?

‘We have shed years of tears and felt the heartbreak of our losses over and over again. 

‘I have faced this repeatedly over the five plus years I have been campaigning for an aggravating factor for “honour”-based abuse with Southall Black Sisters in Banaz’s name.

‘What more do we have to do for someone in government to actually turn around and say, “we value your expertise by lived experience and recognise that your demands would benefit so many Black, minority and migrant women.

‘Let’s make change together.’

The campaign calls for independent oversight and clear standards for death and serious harm police investigations involving BMM women.

It also recommends mandatory cultural competence training and accountability across the justice system – from the police through to the courts.

Campaigners also want to see an end to the No Recourse to Public Funds policy as well as guaranteed access to specialist ‘by and for’ services and safe accommodation regardless of immigration status.

Fawziyah Javed with her mum Yasmin Javed (Picture: Family Handout)

Dr Hannana Siddiqui OBE, Director of Policy, Campaigns & Research, Southall Black Sisters, and Co-Chair of Invisible Women, said: ‘Racism, misogyny, and community and state failures cost lives.

‘Invisible Women demands urgent action to change cultural and religious norms which justify murder in the name of “honour”, and legal and policy reforms to end discrimination against BMM women to prevent femicide.

‘Migrant women must have both status and support to escape abuse, and BMM women need specialist “by and for” services and culturally appropriate responses so that such tragedies never happen again.’

Jhiselle Feanny, VAWG campaigner, Co-Founder & Head of Outreach and Operations, Killed Women, and Co-Chair of Invisible Women, said: ‘The bereaved families’ loved ones featured in this campaign should never have been invisible.

‘Seven families are standing together to say: enough.

‘We’re asking the public and institutions to stand with the families of this campaign — to say their loved ones were never invisible and to demand state accountability and action so that no more lives are lost.’

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