26/06/2009 Session
Following a debate on so-called "honour crimes", the Assembly has called on member states to draw up and put into effect national action plans to combat violence against women, including violence committed in the name of so-called "honour". PACE has also asked national parliaments to pass legislation, if they have not yet done so, to make such offences, providing for a penalty commensurate with the gravity of the acts committed both for their perpetrators and for any accomplices.
“There is no honour in so-called ‘honour crimes’. No tradition or culture can invoke any kind of honour to violate women's fundamental rights,” said John Austin (United Kingdom, SOC), the Assembly rapporteur on this subject. Members also called for dialogue with religious authorities, who should contribute to prevention by stressing the need for respect for the life and freedom of every person and women's fundamental rights, and by making it clear that so-called "honour crimes" have no religious basis.