The Swedish presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2024 has initiated a project on honour-related violence and oppression. NIKK has been commissioned to conduct a review of how the Nordic countries, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland, work with honour-related violence and oppression in various aspects. The study will provide an overview of the work in the Nordic region by highlighting how the concept of honour-related violence and oppression is defined, what problems/challenges are identified and how the work to meet them is organised – by describing the main actors, tasks and initiatives. The project will also capture experiences and lessons learned regarding what can be described as successful and effective methods in prevention and support efforts, through dialogue with relevant authorities and other key actors.
Honour-based violence and oppression is an umbrella term to describe a wide range of forms of violence in an honour context. Honour-based violence and oppression is a very serious violation of people’s fundamental rights and freedoms. The violence and oppression is based on strongly patriarchal and heteronormative beliefs and constitutes a major obstacle to achieving gender equality and the realisation of LGBTI rights.
In a context of honour, individuals’ life choices are limited and restricted in various ways, for example, young women are often subject to restrictions on their choice of clothing, relationships and partners, and in a broader sense, honour-based oppression can be expressed through limited freedom of movement and controlled educational and professional choices.
A common component of honour-motivated violence is conservative norms and beliefs about gender and sexuality, particularly targeting groups or individuals of LGBTI people. LGBTI people can be subjected to the same type of honour-related violence and oppression as other young people, but specifically also so-called conversion attempts. Attempted conversion means that someone is encouraged to change their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression through coercion or pressure. People with various disabilities are also a particularly vulnerable group.
The aim of the project is to provide a unique and comprehensive picture of the work against honour-related violence and oppression in the Nordic region. By also including honour-related violence and oppression affecting young LGBTI people, the project makes an important contribution to making the extent and complexity of the violence visible, as well as the vulnerability of the LGBTI group. The result creates conditions for exchange at the policy level and enables a strengthened and expanded Nordic co-operation between key actors at the authority level in the region. Involving the authorities in the implementation of the project is expected to contribute to making the overall results of the project more accessible and relevant. A long-term and strategic goal is for the project to contribute to the development of work against honour-related violence and oppression in the Nordic region.
Project timespan
2024 – 2025
Commissioned by
Nordic Council of Ministers
Contact
Susanna Young Håkansson
Project budget
1 300 000 DKK