Honour-related violence is communal violence in which an individual is violently controlled by their family members, relatives or community. Honour-related violence generally refers to violence committed to preserve or restore an idea of honour. In these cases, the community believes that the suspected or actual behaviour of a person brings shame to the community. These ideas are often based on unequal and male-dominated values.
Girls and women, sexual and gender minorities (LGBTQ+ persons) and those seeking to leave a religion or community are especially at risk of being victims of honour-related violence. However, boys and men may also experience honour-related violence.
There may be several perpetrators of violence in different localities and countries, in which case the threat may be international. The victim does not always even know who is behind the violence. Honour-related violence is always accepted within the community to some extent. The violence is intended to send a message to the community about defending honour. Members of the community may pressure each other to use violence. For example, parents may pressure boys to control their sisters. In this way, the perpetrator may also be a victim themselves, to some extent.
Like domestic violence, honour-related violence may remain hidden because the victim may consider violence to be a normal part of life and not bring it up themselves. The victim may protect the perpetrator if the perpetrator is a person close to them. In most cases, honour-related violence consists of a series of events rather than an individual act. It is continuous, coercive control.
Contact Nollalinja for help with experiences and threats of honour-related violence.