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Recommendation 1881 (2009)

Urgent need to combat so-called “honour crimes”

Author(s): Parliamentary Assembly

Origin - Assembly debate on 26 June 2009 (26th Sitting) (see Doc. 11943, report of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, rapporteur: Mr Austin). Text adopted by the Assembly on 26 June 2009 (26th Sitting).

1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers to its Resolution 1681 (2009) on the urgent need for action on so-called “honour crimes” and asks the Committee of Ministers to ensure that it is applied by member states, taking account of the fundamental principles of gender equality and respect for human rights.
2. The Assembly asks the Committee of Ministers to devise a comprehensive strategy to put a stop to so-called “honour crimes”. This strategy will be based on the elimination of every form of legislative justification for diminishing or removing the criminal responsibility of the perpetrators of “honour crimes”. It will aim to eliminate social acceptance of “honour crimes” and will emphasise the fact that no religion advocates “honour crimes”. It will include a study to ascertain and deal effectively with the underlying causes of this form of violence against women. It will support the setting up of an international network against “honour crimes”.
3. The Assembly calls on the Committee of Ministers to instruct the Ad hoc Committee on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (CAHVIO) to include in the future Council of Europe convention the severest and most widespread forms of violence against women, including domestic violence and so-called “honour crimes”.
4. Drawing attention to its Recommendation 1798 (2007) on respect for the principle of gender equality in civil law, the Assembly reiterates its request for a new protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights (ETS No. 5) to be drawn up enshrining gender equality as a human right.
5. The Assembly invites the Committee of Ministers to include the fight against the most severe and most widespread forms of violence against women in its assistance and co-operation programmes, and to seek extra-budgetary resources to finance these activities.