So-called ‘Honour’-Based Violence
There is no universally agreed definition of ‘honour’-based violence. It is generally used to refer to crimes that have been committed by perpetrators who perceive they are protecting or defending the ‘honour’ of a family or community. These crimes often include forms of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Such ‘honour’ may be used to justify a range of abusive behaviours, although typically against women and girls, men can also experience so-called ‘honour’ based violence too. These are human rights violations and must not be excused for any reason. Types of so-called ‘honour’- based violence:
- Forced marriage
- Domestic abuse
- Murder or murderous intent
- Physical ‘punishments’, for example, acid attacks
- Deprivation of freedom or independence
- Domestic imprisonment
- Kidnapping or abduction of the survivor or family members
- Female genital mutilation
- Sexual harassment or sexual violence
- Denying access to children or family
- Coercion, for example, to move or live in a certain area or country
- Threats to kill or harm
Forced marriage
Forced marriage is where one or both people do not or cannot consent to the marriage and pressure, coercion or abuse by family members or others is used to force them into marriage. Pressure may take the form of:
- Physical pressure: threats, physical violence or sexual violence
- Emotional and psychological pressure: used to make someone feel like they will bring shame on the family
- Financial pressure: withholding someone’s wages or restricting access to money
A forced marriage is not the same as an arranged marriage. In an arranged marriage, whilst family members can match the couple to be married, either party has a choice as to whether or not to agree consent for the marriage.
Female genital mutilation (FGM)
This refers to a range of procedures intended to either injure or partially or entirely remove the external female genitalia for any non-medical reason. Some claim it is carried out for religious reasons, but it is not a requirement for any religion and has been condemned by many religious leaders and organisations around the world. The four main types of FGM:
- Type 1 (clitoridectomy): removing part or all of the clitoris
- Type 2 (excision): removing part or all of the clitoris and the inner labia
- Type 3 (infibulation): narrowing of the vaginal opening by creating a sea, formed by cutting and repositioning the labia.
- Other harmful procedure: these may include pricking, piercing, cutting, scraping, or bunging the female genitalia.