Honour-based violence violates individuals' fundamental rights and dignity. It is a form of violence rooted in cultural or traditional beliefs, where individuals, primarily women, face harm or even death for perceived violations of honour or cultural norms.
Various abusive practices, including forced marriages, female genital mutilation, and physical or psychological abuse, characterise honour-based violence. Involving control, coercion, and other mental, physical, sexual, or religious violent acts perpetrated by family or community members.
Due to this, violence and control may seem justified to both the perpetrators and the victim, even if it seriously violates the dignity and human rights of those experiencing violence. There are often many factors. Sometimes, the whole family or community can apply pressure and control.
The most significant factor in the emergence of conflicts and violent solutions is each family’s specific ways of functioning and resolving disputes, relationships with surrounding communities and broader society, and other family life histories and stressors.
It requires a comprehensive approach involving raising awareness, supporting survivors, engaging communities, and implementing legal measures to ensure accountability and protection. Challenging and changing the underlying beliefs, attitudes, and social structures perpetuating this form of violence is crucial.
AlsoCrime Victim Support Finland (RIKU)provides help.
By promoting gender equality, empowering individuals to make choices about their lives, and fostering inclusive and respectful societies, we can work towards eradicating honour-based violence and creating a world where every person can live free from fear and violence, irrespective of cultural or traditional norms.