Honor Killings

Honor killings are homicides committed by perpetrators attempting to restore or defend what they perceive to be “damaged” family honor. The UN Population Fund estimates that 5,000 women are victims of this crime annually. Victim actions perceived by perpetrators as “justifying” honor killings include, but are not limited to, interacting with males outside of the family, reporting incidents of domestic abuse, refusing to enter into a forced marriage, seeking divorce, and participating in premarital sexual activity. Rape victims may even be seen as “causing” their own violence. Honor killings are intricately linked to patriarchal beliefs and assumptions which may be supported by religious or cultural norms. In communities prone to honor-based violence, limited legal protections and inadequate access to information often render women vulnerable.