This blog has been written by Amjad Riaz, an Associate Lawyer at She-her, Pakistan, specialising in human rights cases involving GBV, sexual violence, harassment, and guardianship. He can be reached at amjadriaz3895@gmail.com.
Introduction
Imagine a woman emerging from a room: naked, bruised, raped and violated. Behind her, four men walk with chests puffed out and fingers forming victory signs, and that too in front of the village men who stood in silent complicity, believing that justice has been served in the name of honour. This is not a fictional story but a real event that unfolded in southern Punjab, Pakistan and came to be widely known as the Mukhtaran Mai incident. Lamentably, this case is one among the countless acts of Honour-Based Sexual Violence (HBSV) that occur daily in our society. HBSV refers to sexual violence committed against individuals, primarily women and girls, to protect and restore the ‘perceived’ honour of a family, community or social group, and includes rape, forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), sexual assault etc.
Underlying Factors
The two main factors that lie at the heart of these barbaric acts of violence are: the objectification of women and the rigid conception of honor. By objectification, I mean that the female gender is perceived and treated as a commodity with social, cultural, and economic value. In other words, they are the ‘Carbon Credits’ for the families, groups and communities. Families treat them as trading commodities, while societies use them as symbols of either chastity or liberalism. This conception of woman breeds the idea of honour as ‘men’ believe today. For them, the honour lies in the body, character and attire of their women. If a woman wants to make sartorial or matrimonial decisions on her own, the honour of the men, family, or community is perceived to be at stake. As they view women not as individuals but as objects, they resort to violence to restore the honour that has been lost. This symbiotic relation of objectification and rigid conception of honour legitimizes violence as a means to restore the so-called male honour.
Comprehending Phenomenon through Intersectional Lens
To fully comprehend the interplay of various factors behind HBSV, the phenomenon must be viewed through the lens of intersectionality. Intersectionality refers to various aspects of an individual’s identity, such as gender, class, ethnicity and religion, which intersect to create unique experiences of oppression and discrimination. These identities play a role both in the commission of these acts and in the survivor’s pursuit of justice. The gender identity of a woman or girl influences the severity of the backlash they face after perceived honour is lost. More importantly, when survivors of HBSV seek justice, these intersecting identities significantly impact how they are treated by both their families and society. The famous Mukhtara Mai incident is a pertinent example of how gender, caste, ethnicity and socio-economic disparity played a role in HBSV against her, and how these factors later contributed to the denial of justice for so long. She was gang-raped by four men from the Mastoi tribe on the orders of a Jirga (elder council). The reason behind this brutal punishment was an alleged illicit relationship between her younger brother of twelve and a woman of twenty from the Mastoi tribe. The incident, in addition to highlighting intersectionality, underscores how socially constructed identities act as barriers to seeking and accessing justice.
Role of Family in HBSV
Feel the agony of an HBSV survivor. It’s unfathomable! Unfathomable because the perpetrators in such acts are mostly family members. The role of family in enabling HBSV is not only complex but also troubling. Often, family members are not just passive witnesses to such abuse but rather are active participants, either by directly inflicting harm or by condoning and protecting the perpetrators. In many cultures, women's bodies are regarded as repositories of the so-called "honour" of the families. This social construction of the patriarchal conception of honour leads to the justification of violence. Family members in such cases try to ignore, snub and silence the victims by discrediting them, or by forcing them into submission. Moreover, the families, by evading legal and social consequences, protect the abuser and in the process enable the perpetuation of HBSV within the domestic sphere.
Role of Society in HBSV
In addition to the central role of families in enabling HBSV, society as a whole also contributes to the systemic nature of this violence. Socio-cultural norms, overwhelmed by patriarchy, view women as the guardians of family and symbols of community honour. These norms are often backed by a religio-cultural and politico-legal framework which creates an environment where violence against women is seen as a justified means of preserving honor and social well-being. In such societies, victim blaming in cases of HBSV is the norm. Societies question the actions or behaviour of the victim of sexual abuse rather than condemning the abuse itself. The shame and stigma attached to HBSV, coupled with an implicit approbative attitude of the society, makes it incredibly difficult for the victims to come forward and seek justice. This fear of victim blaming, and further victimization by both their societies and the criminal justice system is often sufficient to silence survivors of HBSV.
The Way Forward
To address sexual violence against women motivated by honour, traditional methods such as making stringent laws, devising proactive policies, and providing training to investigation and prosecution teams are of paramount importance but not enough. Had they been, HBSV would have subsided by now. HBSV is supported by non-tangible superstructures and narratives that create an enabling environment for the perpetrators to carry out such abominable acts of cruelty with impunity. Tackling this issue demands a more nuanced approach that addresses the underlying causes. Therefore, a comprehensive strategy based on an intersectional approach to dismantle the normative framework and to bring change from within is needed.
Conclusion
Recapitulating the whole write-up, it is axiomatically stated that HBSV is a deep-seated issue with socio-familial and socio-cultural underpinnings. Family and society, indeed, play a very bleak role by becoming facilitators and aggressors. The approach of analyzing the problem comprehensively by considering the various identities of the individuals involved is indispensable to grasping the issue and addressing the connected challenges. So, the bottom line is: that the road to ending HBSV is long and laborious, but with collective action, legal reform, cultural change, and the empowerment of survivors, we can begin to dismantle the oppressive systems that allow this violence to continue unabated. It is time to redefine honour, shift the focus from controlling women’s bodies to respecting their rights, and create a world where every survivor can pursue justice without fear.
References:
Bhanbhro, S. (2022, December). Honour-Based Abuse: Still an invisible crime. https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/114470/pdf/
Roberts, K. A., Campbell, G., & Lloyd, G. (2014). Honour-based violence: Policing and prevention. CRC Press.
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