Where is the Honour in Killing?

THIMUN has been a forum for the debate of global topics for over half a century. Each debated topic is significant and relevant to its time. However, the question of what is relevant and what should be relevant often differs. One topic in particular focuses on an archaic practice best consigned to history. This is GA6’s “Working Towards the Elimination of Crimes Against Women and Girls Committed in the Name of Honour”—to put it more concisely, ending honour killings.

Honour killings are murders committed by the (usually male) family members of a woman who is perceived to have sullied the honour of her family. In patriarchal societies, the oversight of a woman’s sexual purity is the responsibility of male family members: first her father and brothers, then her husband. More often than not, these offences can be found only in the male family members’ perceptions than in reality. Killings usually take place in response to “sexual immorality” ranging from talking to a man who is not a relative to sex outside of marriage. However, it can also take place in response to a refusal of an arranged marriage or an attempt to seek divorce. 

Although such a barbaric practice seems far removed from our time, it is far from dead. The United Nations Population Fund estimates that as many as 5,000 women per year are killed due to reasons of honour. Even this figure is likely an underestimation as these crimes go widely unreported due to direct and indirect support from surrounding communities and sympathetic justice systems. In the 21st century, there has been increased awareness and condemnation of such practices yet some countries remain reluctant to take the necessary steps to effectively criminalise it and, in the event that a man is charged, focusing on the conduct of the murdered woman during the trial. Deaths can be reported as accidents or suicides and in some places, such as Jordan, explicit leniency is shown. According to Article 340 of the Jordanian Penal Code, those who kill female relatives “guilty” of adultery are exempt from punishment. According to Article 76 of the temporary penal code, defendants are allowed to cite “mitigating reasons” in assault cases. Attempts were made to prevent its use in honour killing cases by Jordanian legislators in 2011, but these were stalled by pressure from social groups.

The fact that this topic was selected for debate shows its prevalence as an issue in today’s world. In discussing it, THIMUN delegates will increase their awareness of the issue and work to find solutions to a problem that ought to have already been solved. It is important to retain the international community’s attention on the topic to maintain pressure on countries with lenient laws around these heinous crimes. By educating ourselves on the topic, we are helping to ensure this will remain in discussion as our generation takes the helm of international relations.