What forms of honour-based violence are there?
Honour-based violence takes many different forms. Most commonly, a girl or woman is abused, disowned by her family or forced to have an abortion. Women and girls are the most common victims of honour-based violence. However, men and boys can be victims, too.
Examples of honour-based violence
Honour-based violence includes:
- physical abuse (kicking and beating);
- psychological pressure (strict monitoring, humiliation, threats);
- forced abandonment abroad (leaving someone in their country of origin or sending them back there);
- forced marriage;
- marital captivity;
- forced suicide;
- honour killing (murder).
Motives for honour-based violence
The most common reasons for committing honour-based violence are:
- conflicts of honour, for example concerning an inheritance;
- loss of virginity outside marriage;
- an extramarital affair;
- rebellion against traditional forms of behaviour, dress or occupation;
- insulting a family member;
- not agree with a forced marriage;
- homosexuality;
- refusing to take part in honour-based violence against another person.