Practice of Honour Killing: A Human Rights Crisis in India

Abstract

The concept of honour is crucial in collective societies because one person's dishonourable actions can affect the reputation of their entire family or community. Among the various forms of conduct related to honour, the most tragic is certainly honour killing. Although certain unlawful aspects of honour killing might coincide with those required for murder under a country's legal framework, honour killing possesses several distinct characteristics that render it even more alarming than murder. At the international level, the rules of the CEDAW address murder and other forms of homicide that do not qualify as murder. The provisions of the treaty, which generally prohibit any form of physical or emotional harm inflicted on women, comprehensively address all dimensions and facets of honour killings targeting female members of society.