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Violence against women in the name of honour should be criminalized - UN report

Violence against women in the name of honour should be criminalized - UN report

All forms of violence against women and girls committed in the name of honour should be criminalized, and those deliberately participating in such acts should be penalized, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan says in a just-released report.

The document - the first by the Secretary-General in response to a request by the General Assembly to report on efforts to eliminate crimes against women committed in the name of honour - is based on information provided by Member States.

In his report, the Secretary-General notes that attention has been drawn, particularly in recent years, to the issue and numerous UN bodies have addressed the matter. Member States have also taken some measures to eliminate these crimes.

However, total elimination requires greater and more concerted efforts, Mr. Annan stresses. "All reports of violence against women committed in the name of honour should be promptly, impartially and thoroughly investigated; documented; and effectively prosecuted," he writes. "All necessary measures should be taken to prevent violence against women committed on that basis. In countries with immigrant communities, protection should be given to victims and potential victims in connection with asylum and immigration procedures."

The Secretary-General suggests that special training and resources should be provided to law enforcement, including judges and legal personnel, in order to "impartially and effectively" address complaints of violence against women, and to protect vulnerable women and girls while respecting their human rights. Support to victims and potential victims should also be increased.

Awareness-raising, information and education campaigns, involving religious and community leaders, which are directed at changing stereotypical societal attitudes towards the behaviour of women and men are crucial to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls committed in the name of honour, he says.

The media should also be encouraged to participate actively in public education campaigns, Mr. Annan writes, adding that more support should be given to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other groups working to eliminate violence against women and girls committed in the name of honour.

Meanwhile, the UN and other intergovernmental organizations should continue to support initiatives to eliminate these crimes, including through collaboration with both governments and NGOs, he says.