Honour Based Violence (HBV) which is considered as a form of Gender- Based Violence (GBV) is being widely discussed recently. The main victims of HBV are women as well as girls and hence, this is the main reason that it is considered as GBV. Though, it cannot be said that men and boys are totally unhurt by such violence. The cases of HBV are increasing at a great speed. The major reason that this topic has gained relevance lately is because of its impact on human health as well as the wellbeing of the community and the society in which we live. Despite of its wide impact and relevance in the field of academics and journalism, it has been seen that this topic is still unexplored in many countries and also, it is being considered as criminal justice as well as domestic abuse in some regions (The Lancet, 2013). According to the United Nations Population Fund (2000), it has been found that nearly 5000 women and girls across the globe are killed on a yearly basis under the name of so called honour. This is considered as one of the most extreme cases of HBV. In order to understand HBV it is important to know about HBV in detail and what kind of violence is considered as HBV. Though, many attempts have been made in order to define HBV but no consensus has been achieved on this. The main reason behind this is that it has been seen that in many regions this concept is influenced by their cultural beliefs or the condition of their society;and the way women or girl is beingtreated in their society (Bhanbhro et al., 2016).
In order to understand honour, it is important to understand about the causes of honour and why this is so prevalent in our society. One of the major reasons behind HBV is the acceptance of HBC as well as the abuse by spouse and by the people of community on the grounds that women are transgressing the rules of a family or cultural tradition. Apart from this, the structure of the family as well as the dynamics of a family is also responsible behind honour killings and the respect and status of women in the society. This cruel act of HBV is being taken over in almost every corner of the world. According to the data, most of the cases of HBV comes from the country like, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Ecuador, Jordan, Turkey, Uganda, Israel, Sweden, Morocco, etc. (ICWA, 2012). Also, can be seen that majority of the HBV cases are related to women and hence, this is the main reason that it is believed that HBV should be considered as Gender based violence as, these cases of HBV are gender sensitive and aims to target and harm a specific gender group. Forced marriages, domestic violence, sexual abuse, etc. are some of the examples of HBV (Safe lives, 2018). It has been claimed by many experts that the types of crimes that are undertaken under the name of honour are usually influenced by the patriarchal society and is taken under the name of maintaining honour or punishing shameful act. Because of this reason, it has been seen that the cases of HBV are sometimes closely associated with religion and tradition of people and their society. But, this notion of HBV is very wrong, this is so because the acts under HBV are a threat to human being and their lives and hence, this violence is against human rights and not because of any tradition or culture (Keyhani, 2018).
The main concern towards calling HBV as GBV has been raised by few researchers who consider honour word as deceiving and ambiguous. Hence, recently, the need has arisen to consider honour based violence as gender based violence. It has been seen that many experts and professionals are taking actions towards this, like, for example it has been suggested to ban the use of the term ‘Honour Killing’ by emphasising on the point that language matters. Many professionals are of the view that the term honour is not relevant to define a crime that is being undertaken under the name of Honour killing, as this is aligned with the cultural beliefs and hence, is used as an excuse for what is being happening around us (Safe Lives, 2017). Honour based violence can be understood as a form of violence that is against the women and which is considered as an act that has been undertaken in order to restore the honour of the family in any community. If we consider this from legal point of view then such acts are mainly termed as murders. But, as this is aligned with the tradition and cultural beliefs the term Honour killing or Honour based violence is used. According to the nature of the crime, the term honour does not reveal the heinous crime that is being undertaken behind this name. Hence, this is the major reason for all the controversy that has been raised around the use of the term Honour. Another important reason to challenge the use of this term is that people easily find loop hole to escape this crime by relating it to the tradition and cultural belief that is present with them since time immemorial.
It is believed by many experts that the term Honour reinforce false notions and associations between the two different meaning words that is honour and violence. It is not wrong to say that many policies and procedures have been made and adopted in order to protect the women in our society. But, because of the use of this term, it has been seen that many criminals are able to escape. Hence, this is one of the major reasons towards focusing the great human cry revolving around the use of the term Honour (Vaughn, 2016).The use of term has the power to change the conception of people and this is the main reason that so much emphasis is being given towards using the term gender instead of honour. Many other experts have also raised concern that in the name of honour, the male members of the society are given extreme power to control women and, if the women is not obedient or is going against their family or society the male member of the society has all the rights to kill a women. This power has taken many negative routes like acid attacks, burning alive a woman, etc. This reflects that the society believes that men are the guardians of women and their chastity and sanctity and hence, they can undertake any activity under the name of the honour of family. This has been ingrained too deeply in the society and the social life of the people (UNHR, 2014). It has been highlighted by some experts that HBV is still prevailing in the society because of the prevalence of the notions like honour, control, shame, etc. Hence, it has become very important to separate such criminal activities from the terminology of honour, so that strict actions can be taken against the criminals (Edvardsson, 2008). Apart from this, the main reason that has attracted the people across the globe to reconsider the use of term honour and use gender is because gender plays a very important role behind all the cases of violence under HBV. The nature of the patriarchal society is an important reason behind such demands. Both the genders have different norms and meaning of honour in their eyes, but the thing to consider here is that in patriarchal society major importance is given to the male meaning of honour. This is the main reason that few cruel people feel that they have all the right to take any action against women and their decisions (Nazand Begikhani, 2016). HBV are a major concern today, because the number of violence taken under the name of honour is rising and is adding to the criminal records. Therefore, it is no wrong to consider this violence as gender based and not honour based as it is giving more firer to such acts. One of the major thing that needs consideration is that women also play a major role behind the increase of HBV’s in society. This is so because it has been seen that women do not raise their voices against the structure of the society. Also, many cases have been seen where the mother herself teach their girl child that, this is the kind of society and we need to live and adjust in this type of society (Welchman & Hossain, 2013 ).Therefore, it is important that the women of the society should come forward and take actions against such cases of violence. Only then there are chances that the HBV will reduce. Another such example of HBV where women can take action is in the cases of domestic violence. It has been seen that women in the society hesitate to bring in limelight about the domestic violence acts done by their husbands. Remaining silent towards crime is also a criminal act and hence, the female member of the society should also be held responsible towards the increasing honour based violence against them in the society. This can only be achieved by creating awareness among the women and by making them aware about the policies and regulations against gender based violence (Idriss, 2017).
Another thing that needs urgent attention is that it is important to consider honour based violence as national issue and not as cultural or traditional issue. This means that it is important that political involvement is necessary at the moment and hence, a new regulation should be adopted and implemented that will make a provision to change the term from honour based violence to gender based violence. Apart from this, the political involvement is required in order to take serious action against the increasing cases of gender based violence. Also, it is important to turn the people’s attention from HBV as a cultural issue as this attracts cultural sensitivity. Such heinous acts needs to be dealt with proper regulations and policies. Government and other organizations like UN, etc. can disassociate the HBV from cultural perspective and will help to associate this issue with the national issues (Eshareturi et al., 2014). Only this way, the society will start considering these cases of violence as inhuman and against the human rights. This violence should be brought into limelight under the light of gender inequality that is present in the society. This will help in reporting these cases as acts of crime and hence, actions can be taken against the same, which will help in reducing the number of cases of HBV.
Conclusion
In the end it can be concluded that it is no wrong to say that honour based violence should be called as gender based violence and not as a form or a part of gender based violence. This is so because it has been seen that the majority of cases related to HBV are associated with women or girls of the society. Also, if HBV will be considered as GBV only then, this issue will be considered as a national issue and actions can be taken against such heinous crime. Also, it has been seen that there is lack of awareness among the people that HBV is crime and therefore, it is important to aware people about the violence that are part of HBV so that people can know that this is not legal and can report or take actions against such act. Apart from this, as it has been seen that female group of the society are the main victims of such crimes, it is important to make them aware about gender sensitivity and also the human rights that are available to them. This will help them to fight the battle against HBV or GBV and this way reduction in the cases of GBV will be achieved.
References
Bhanbhro, S., Chavez, A.C.d. & Lusambili, A., 2016. Honour based violence as a global public health problem: a critical review of literature. International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, 9(3), pp.198-215.
Edvardsson, L., 2008. Crimes of Honour. [Online] Available at: https://muep.mau.se/bitstream/handle/2043/6820/1+2+3.pdf?sequence=1 [Accessed 11 December 2018].
Eshareturi, C., Lyle, C. & Morgan, A., 2014. Policy Responses to Honor-Based Violence: A Cultural or National Problem? Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma , 23(4), pp.369-82.
ICWA, 2012. Honour Based Violence. [Online] Available at: https://icwaedmonton.org/index.php/violence-against-women/honour-based-violence [Accessed 11 December 2018].
Idriss, M.M., 2017. Not domestic violence or cultural tradition: is honour-based violence distinct from domestic violence? Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law , 39(1), pp.3-21.
Keyhani, N., 2018. Honour crimes as gender-based violence in the UK: a critical assessment. [Online] Available at: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1470686/1/2UCLJLJ255%20-%20Honour%20Crimes.pdf [Accessed 11 December 2018].
Nazand Begikhani, A.K.G., 2016. Honour-Based Violence: Experiences and Counter-Strategies in Iraqi Kurdistan and the UK Kurdish Diaspora. London: Routledge.
Safe Lives, 2017. ‘Honour’ and violence against women – what’s in a name? [Online] Available at: https://safelives.org.uk/practice_blog/honour-and-violence-against-women-%E2%80%93-whats-name [Accessed 11 December 2018].
Safe lives, 2018. Your Choice: ‘honour’-based violence, forced marriage and domestic abuse. [Online] Available at: https://safelives.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Spotlight%20on%20HBV%20and%20forced%20marriage-web.pdf [Accessed 11 December 2018].
The Lancet, 2013. Violence against women: ending the global scourge. [Online] Available at: https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2813%2961222-2 [Accessed 11 December 2018].
UNHR, 2014. Women’s Rights are Human Rights. [Online] Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Events/WHRD/WomenRightsAreHR.pdf [Accessed 11 December 2018].
Vaughn, L., 2016. Treating honour-based violence as terrorism will only harm more women and girls. [Online] Available at: https://qz.com/india/750402/treating-honour-based-violence-as-terrorism-will-only-harm-more-women-and-girls/ [Accessed 11 December 2018].
Welchman, L. & Hossain, S., 2013. Honour: Crimes, Paradigms, and Violence Against Women. London: Zed Books Ltd.
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