Honor killings are a crucial problem in different countries. More than four thousand people typically women, who are believed to have brought shame or dishonor upon the family with acts including adultery, premarital sex, seeking divorce or marrying against the wishes of families, are killed by family members in the name of family honor every year globally. According to multiple sources including the BBC, such killings are found in different regions. But honor killings — which result in the loss of innocent lives, perpetuate a culture of fear and silence and bring other negative consequences — are more in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and several countries in the Middle East.
There is a combination of socio-cultural, legal and other factors that lead to honor killings. Social pressure to conform to traditional social norms, providing less emphasis on individual rights, rigid gender norms and the perception that the reputation of a family or community is linked to the shame of divorce and marriage without the wishes of the family are crucial causes. Choosing a marital partner outside the approved social circle is considered negatively in different communities in countries where honor killings are more. But inadequate legal steps have probably fostered the traditional norms that play decisive roles in honor killings. Additionally, economic factors and a lack of education work as contributing causes of honor killings in different countries.
Governments have definitely taken legal and other efforts to prevent honor killings. Different countries have enacted anti-honor killing laws and implemented them with harsher penalties with the aim to punish those involved in honor-based violence including killings and deter potential perpetrators. Pakistan —for instance — enacted the Anti-Honor Killing Law (Criminal Amendment Act) in 2016. But there is a lack of legal protection and strong enforcement against such crimes. Furthermore, support services and shelters have been set up in several countries including Jordan to provide assistance and protection to individuals at risk of honor killings, along with offering them resources to rebuild their lives. But such efforts are also less in different countries.
It is desired that the problem of honor killings be addressed. Legal steps are definitely vital. Along with the enactment of laws that punish the perpetrators of honor killings and send a strong message against such acts, their effective implementation is imperative to address such killings. Additionally, providing support to those who are at risk of honor killings is crucial in many countries. But it is difficult to address the problem of honor killings with legal means alone. Despite the existence of laws against honor killings in several countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, such killings notably exist in these countries.
Given that consent based premarital and extra-marital sexual relations are not positively considered in many societies, it is desirable to discourage such relations and promote the importance of marital sexual relations — instead of killings in the name of family honor. But addressing the underlying causes is crucial to successfully and effectively fight it. Engaging community leaders, religious institutions and local authorities can help change cultural norms and attitudes toward honor killings. Raising awareness with media campaigns and providing support and resources for the victims may be helpful in different countries.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
