'Honour'-based violence (HBV) is a crime or incident committed to protect or defend the honour of a family and/or community.
There is not one specific crime; HBV generally occurs in domestic settings and can involve a range of offending behaviours which are used against individuals, families, or other social groups, to control and protect perceived cultural or religious beliefs and honour.
HBV may include:
- murder
- fear of, or actual, forced marriage
- controlling sexual activity
- domestic abuse (including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, or emotional)
- child abuse
- rape
- kidnapping
- false imprisonment
- assault
- harassment
- forced abortion.
This list is not exhaustive.
Such crimes cut across all cultures, nationalities, faith groups, and communities. They transcend national and international boundaries; they are violations of human rights and there is no ‘honour’ in the commission of them.
HBV may occur when the perpetrator(s) perceive that a person (or persons) have shamed the family / community by breaking an honour code. The violence can include planning, premeditation, and family/community conspiracy. Often the belief is that victim(s) ‘deserve’ the punishment.