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West Midlands, UK – A newly published report by Sikh Women’s Aid (SWA) reveals widespread abuse faced by Sikh Panjabi women in the UK, uncovering a disturbing reality of domestic, sexual, and spiritual abuse within the community.

The 2024 report titled, ‘Gender, Power and Abuse’ examines domestic, sexual and spiritual abuse in the Sikh Panjabi Community.  The report provides a sobering insight into the prevalence, systemic barriers, and long-term impact of abuse while presenting urgent recommendations for transformative change. The report will be launched at The Sikh Women’s Aid conference held at the Tally Ho Conference & Banqueting Centre in Edgbaston, Birmingham on Friday 6^th December 2024.

With 675 Sikh Panjabi women as its primary focus, the biannual survey combines quantitative and qualitative data to examine abuse experiences across demographics.

The findings paint a stark picture:

• 61.48% of respondents reported experiencing domestic abuse, with emotional and controlling behaviour as the most common forms. Over 60% of respondents said they had multiple perpetrators, including mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
  
  
• 32.89% experienced sexual abuse, with a staggering 69.96% of these incidents occurring in childhood.
  
  
• 8% faced faith-based or spiritual abuse, including coercion, financial extortion, and sexual assault by individuals in ‘positions of trust’. 16% of all casework undertaken by Sikh Women’s Aid from November 2022 to November 2024 involved faith and spiritual abuse.
  
  

The systemic barriers highlighted include stigma, fear of retaliation, and shame and honour, with 83.86% of sexual abuse cases going unreported. Alarmingly, most reported cases led to no further action, leaving perpetrators unaccountable and survivors without justice.

Impact and Call to Action

The report underscores the long-term consequences for survivors, ranging from mental health struggles to social isolation. Depression, trust issues, and strained family relationships are common among victims, reinforcing the need for comprehensive, culturally sensitive wrap-around and holistic support systems.

 To combat these challenges, SWA is advocating for:

• ·         Ring-fenced funding for culturally tailored, "By-and-For" support services.
• Legal recognition of spiritual abuse in policy frameworks.
• Early intervention through community awareness campaigns to break the stigma surrounding abuse.
• A community-coordinated response that includes culturally competent policing and risk assessment models.
  
  

Sahdaish Pall, CEO of Sikh Women’s Aid, stated: "This report exposes the urgent need for systemic change and targeted support for Sikh Panjabi women and girls. This is the third survey in the last 4 years and the data has not shifted.

Notions of shame and honour are preventing women and girls from reaching out, and sadly those that do, are being let down by the Justice System. Our voices must be heard. There is an urgent need to develop agile and coordinated responses that protect the vulnerable and hold perpetrators accountable."