Strengthening the fight against so-called “honour” crimes
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly
debate on 28 September 2021 (26th sitting) (see Doc. 15347, report of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination,
rapporteur: Ms Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo). Text
adopted by the Assembly on 28 September 2021 (26th sitting).
1. Throughout the world, violence
against women, domestic violence and violence against LGBTI (lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender and intersex) people are the tangible expressions
of a desire to control and of gender inequality. They are serious
human rights violations which must be systematically and firmly condemned.
2. The entry into force of the Council of Europe Convention on
Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence
(CETS No. 210, the “Istanbul Convention”) in 2014 marked a major
milestone by setting out fundamental principles and calling on the
States Parties to do everything in their power to put an end to
violence against women and domestic violence. The Parliamentary
Assembly recognises that this convention is a key instrument for
preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence that
has the Assembly's unwavering support. The convention offers a tool
to crack down on so-called “honour”-related violence perpetrated
against women and girls and States Parties can decide to apply its
provisions on domestic violence in relation to men and boys in all
their diversity.
3. The Istanbul Convention unequivocally asserts that customs,
tradition, culture, religion or so-called “honour” cannot be used
to justify violence. No mitigating circumstance on grounds of so-called
“honour” may be enshrined in national legislation or tolerated by
courts when passing judgment. The Assembly stresses that so-called
“honour” constitutes no ground, excuse or explanation for violating
physical integrity and human dignity. Reiterating its
Resolution 1681 (2009) “Urgent
need to combat so-called ‘honour crimes’”, it emphatically condemns
these crimes.
4. So-called “honour” crimes are most often perpetrated or ordered
by members of the victim's family who refuse to accept their gender
identity, sexual orientation, lifestyle or life choices, desire
for emancipation or refusal of marriage. These crimes may take the
form of murder, illegal confinement, abduction, torture, mutilation,
burning, forced suicide, forced marriage, conversion therapy, interference
in the choice of a partner or assault. They are often premeditated
and organised. Large-scale awareness-raising initiatives must be carried
out in order to have a tangible impact.
5. The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase in gender-based
violence, including acts aimed at upholding “honour”. Significant
progress made in gender equality has been slowed and even set back
in certain sectors. Recalling its
Resolution 2339 (2020) “Upholding
human rights in times of crisis and pandemics: gender, equality
and non-discrimination”, the Assembly emphasises that an effective
response to the Covid-19 pandemic must include a gender dimension,
be inclusive, take an intersectional approach and make preventing and
combating violence a priority. It asserts that the education system
has a fundamental role to play in promoting gender equality from
the earliest age, deconstructing stereotypes and encouraging the
development of critical thinking.
6. In light of these considerations, the Assembly calls on the
Council of Europe's member States, as well as on all States whose
parliaments enjoy an observer or a partner for democracy status,
to:
6.1 ratify and implement the
Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against
Women and Domestic Violence, if they have not already done so, and
implement
Resolution 2289
(2019) “The Istanbul Convention on violence against women:
achievements and challenges”;
6.2 abolish from their criminal code any justification of
crime linked to the upholding of so-called “honour” or any mitigating
circumstance linked to the upholding of “honour”;
6.3 adopt a clear definition of so-called “honour” and recognise
the upholding of so-called “honour” as an aggravating circumstance
of any form of violence, and take into account the aggravating circumstances
established by the Istanbul Convention;
6.4 firmly condemn violence against women, domestic violence
and violence against LGBTI people, ensure that the sentences passed
are carried out and condemn a system of oppression based on so-called
“honour”;
6.5 punish any public statements inciting violence against
women, domestic violence and violence against LGBTI people, including
in the name of so-called “honour”;
6.6 recognise that LGBTI persons are vulnerable to so-called
“honour” crimes and include them in all action plans aimed at preventing
and combating this violence, and also ban conversion therapy;
6.7 make the collection of data on violence against women,
domestic violence and violence against LGBTI people a priority and
log cases of violence committed to uphold so-called “honour”;
6.8 adopt action plans aimed at preventing and combating violence
against women, domestic violence and violence against LGBTI people,
including a section dedicated to so-called “honour”-based violence,
and provide adequate funding for them.
7. The Assembly also calls on them, where protection and assistance
for the victims are concerned, to:
7.1 open telephone helplines, available in several languages
and with trained staff, for individuals looking for advice after
being subjected to violence, including so-called “honour”-based
violence, or seeking protection;
7.2 ensure the protection, including through protection orders,
of persons at risk of or having been subjected to gender-based violence;
7.3 train police officers and members of the judiciary in
the identification of violence against women, domestic violence
and violence against LGBTI people, including so-called “honour”-based
violence, and in the reception, support and assistance of victims;
7.4 guarantee a sufficient number of places, with adequate
funding, in facilities for the reception of persons having fled
such violence and offer care appropriate to their situation;
7.5 offer refuge and support for victims of gender-based violence,
including so-called “honour”-based violence, or potential victims
of so-called “honour” crimes who have fled their country, in reception centres
for asylum seekers, include a gender dimension in asylum policies
and accept their requests for asylum;
7.6 support national human rights institutions and equality
bodies, civil society and non-governmental organisations working
to promote the rights of women and to prevent and combat violence
against women and domestic violence, as well as those providing
assistance to them, by guaranteeing them a space in which to operate,
enabling them to carry out their work without hindrance;
7.7 provide support for national human rights institutions
and equality bodies, civil society and non-governmental organisations
dedicated to protecting the rights of LGBTI people as well as those providing
them with support and assistance;
7.8 adopt an intersectional approach in combating gender-based
discrimination, violence against women, domestic violence and violence
against LGBTI people.
8. In the area of prevention, the Assembly calls on them to:
8.1 run campaigns to prevent violence
against women, domestic violence and violence against LGBTI people,
and raise awareness of so-called “honour” crimes, as well as communication
initiatives aimed at parents;
8.2 launch campaigns or awareness-raising programmes to promote
gender equality aimed at the general public;
8.3 carry out activities to promote gender equality within
education establishments, from the earliest age, and offer training
for teachers on the prevention and detection of gender-based violence.
9. The Assembly also asks national parliaments to:
9.1 carry out awareness-raising
activities aimed at promoting gender equality and preventing violence,
including so-called “honour”-based violence;
9.2 organise debates at regular intervals on the action taken
at national level to combat violence against women and domestic
violence, and on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention or
its ratification, and engage actively in its promotion.
10. The Assembly encourages the organisations involved in preventing
and combating violence against women, domestic violence and violence
against LGBTI people to continue their work and expresses its full support
for them.
