Table of Contents

Preface: Violence Against Women and 'Crimes of Honour' - Radhika Coomeraswamy Introduction: Honour, Rights and Wrongs - Lynn Welchman and Sara Hossain 1. The United Nations and International Advocacy on 'Crimes of Honour' - Jane Connors 2. Crimes of Honour': Value and Meaning - Purna Sen 3. The Role of 'Community Discourse' in Combatting 'Crimes of Honour': Preliminary Assessment and Prospects - Abdullahi An-Na`im 4. 'Honour Killings' and the Law in Pakistan - Sohail Warraich 5. Women Murder in Lebanon: 'Crimes of 'Honour' between Reality and the Law - The Lebanese Council to Eliminate Violence Against Women. 6. Crimes of Honour as Violence Against Women in Egypt: An Analysis and Future Prospects - The Centre for Egyptian Women Legal Assistance 7. Researching Women's Victimization in Palestine: A Socio-Legal Analysis - Nadera Shalhoub Kevorkian 8. Culture, National Minority and the State: Working against 'the Crime of Family Honour' among the Palestinian Community in Israel - Aida Touma-Sliman 9. Changing the rules? Developments on 'crimes of honour' in Jordan - Reem Abu Hassan and Lynn Welchman 10. Honour-based Violence among the Kurds: The Case of Iraqi Kurdistan - Nazand Begikhani Killing 11. 'Crimes of Honour' in the Italian Penal Code: an Analysis of History and Reform - Maria Gabriella Bettiga 12. 'Legitimate Defence of Honour': A Critical study of legislation and case law in Latin America - Silvia Pimental, Val‚ria Pandjiarjian and Juliana Belloque. 13. Women's Struggles Against 'Honour Crimes' in the UK - Hannana Siddiqui 14. Forced Marriage in Bangladesh: Of Consent and Contradiction - Dina Siddiqi 15. From Fathers to Husbands: Of Love, Death and Marriage in North India - Uma Chakravarty 16. Tackling Forced Marriages in the Nordic Countries: Between Women's Rights and Immigration Control - Anja Bredal Bibliography Index

Promotional Information

This book arises from the practical insights and experiences of individuals and organisations addressing so-called 'honour crimes' in different geographic and social contexts, including 'honour killings' and interference with the right to marry.

About the Author

Lynn Welchman is senior lecturer in law, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Sara Hossain is a barrister practicing at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and a human rights activist. The contributors are prominent activists and researchers around the world.

Reviews

'Honour crimes' are in fact among the most dishonourable of crimes involving the killing of others. While clearly condemning these outrageous practices, this book brings very welcome analytical balance, nuance and sophistication to the task of understanding and seeking to combat such killings. It is by far the best recent work on the issue and is indispensable reading.' - Professor Philip Alston, Director, Center for Human Rights and Global Justice, New York University School of Law 'This urgently needed volume provides invaluable insight on how we should understand the concept of honour crimes as it impacts predominately on women and girl children in different contexts throughout the world. In the British context, there has been a strong trend amongst certain policy makers and state service providers to address the question of honour crimes as an 'exotic' problem demanding greater understanding and even 'tolerance' for the religious or cultural practices of minority communities. The volume helps to debunk the view that honour crimes is a 'Muslim' phenomenon, that it is separate from the issue of violence against women and that the struggle for women's human rights is somehow 'alien' to non western or minority communities. Above all it offers an opportunity to develop strategies of resistance in the light of shared knowledge. Thoughtful and thought provoking, the volume is an indispensable tool for anyone seriously committed to eradicating violence against women in all communities. ' - Pragna Patel, Southall Black Sisters, London