Women in Pakistan, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, and all around the world live in constant fear of death by burning, decapitation, stoning, or acid attacks at the hands of their own family members for dishonoring their family.
A Pakistani mother recently doused her 15-year-old daughter with acid for allegedly looking at a boy. She died slowly after suffering agonizing burns to 70% of her body. This is the latest example of a chilling, global phenomenon that arose from the cultural commodification of women and is reinforced by misguided concepts of honor.
Dishonorable acts can be simple exercises of free will: marrying the man of their choice, divorcing abusive husbands, or unacceptable dress. They are even murdered for actions beyond their control, including rape and incest as these are interpreted as bringing shame to the family.
Agents of honor killings often receive light sentences or are exonerated entirely by the courts because defense of the family's honor is treated as a mitigating circumstance (in Jordan, the murder of women for the sake of restoring family honor is legally sanctioned).
We urge the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue an international dialogue around this issue and to continue diligent advocacy work towards legal reforms resulting in full prosecution of family members who murder their own daughters, sisters, mothers, and wives.
Please sign the petition.
