Proceedings of The 6th Global Conference on Women’s Studies
Year: 2024
DOI:
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There is No Honour in Honour Killing: A Comparative Analysis of the Policy Responses to Honour Killings in the UK and Sweden
Aiyesha Kaur Swarnn
ABSTRACT:
Honour is a moral quality linked to integrity and selflessness. However, when an individual tarnishes that honour, it is often used as a justification for violence or even murder, also known as honour killing. Hailé estimates that globally, around 5,000 girls and women are killed annually as a result of honour killings perpetrated by male family members. From these statistics, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) estimate that 12-15 honour killings occur each year in the UK, alongside 3 honour killings that are committed annually in Sweden. Due to the high amount of honour killing cases perpetrated by ethnic immigrant groups, the dominant policy discourse frames this issue as a cultural phenomenon. By utilising a methodology grounded in a comparative welfare state framework, this study analyses both the UK and Sweden’s policy responses and processes, which finds that defining honour killings as a cultural phenomenon is oversimplified. Thus, honour killings should be reframed as gendered-based violence, as they are primarily dependent on the control and objectification of women. The findings of this study indicate that the data reliability on honour killings in the UK and Sweden is a concern due to the lack of documentation, raising the issue of underreporting and potential oversight. The findings also underscore the gender bias and welfare regime analysis in both countries, which may inadvertently neglect the viewpoints and encounters of women inside these systems.
keywords: Gender-based violence, culture, UK, Sweden, honour-based violence