Honour Killing

A term that is used to describe murders by families on family members who are believed to have brought "shame" on the family name. These killings result from the perception that any behaviour of a woman that "dishonours" her family is justification for a killing that would otherwise be deemed murder. Some victims are driven to suicide from the pressure of their families (known as 'honour' suicides).

Victims may be targeted for:

• refusing an arranged marriage
• having a relationship that the family considers to be inappropriate
• being the victim of a sexual assault
• seeking a divorce
• committing adultery or fornication

Every year in the UK, it is thought that about 13 women are victims of honour killing. Often cases are unresolved due to the unwillingness of family, relatives and communities to testify.

In some counties, honour killings are not considered a crime; for example, in Jordan, a man who discovers his wife or one of his female relatives committing adultery and kills, wounds, or injures one of them, is exempted from any penalty.