This definition was developed by The Shield of Athena, in collaboration with partners from various sectors of intervention.
Honor based violence is not a new phenomenon. We find examples of such violence in many civilizations and throughout different periods in history. It can be found in several communities regardless of nationality, culture or religion. Although honor based violence is most often associated with violence against women, this type of violence differs from conjugal or family violence because of certain characteristics such as : motivation, the people that are targetted, the numerous perpetrators or the types of violence that are used.
Honor based violence is any form of psychological, physical, verbal, sexual, economic and spiritual violence, motivated by the desire to protect or restore the honor or reputation of an individual, a family or a community. This violence is used to control the social and sexual behavior of a person so that it conforms to the norms, values and practices related to the traditions and customs of a given group. It can also be used as punishment or a means to correct a behavior that is deemed or perceived as inappropriate. This type of violence can be exercised by one or more members of the same family, including the extended family or community members.
Honor based violence can take different forms:
- Psychological and verbal abuse:
emotional blackmail, blaming, intimidation, harassment, extreme surveillance, insults, denigration, excessive control, different types of threats, isolation (ostracism)
. - Physical violence:
assaults, kidnappings, sexual assaults
. - Genital Mutilation
. - Deportation
. - Homicide or attempted murder
. - Forced marriage
This list is not exhaustive. Although most of the types of violence mentioned above are illegal, some of them are not. It is therefore essential to have a good understanding of both the problems and the family dynamic so as to be able to identify situations of risk.
The majority of victims of honor based violence are women and girls. However, men and boys can also be victims.