HonorHonor KillingsKillingsByBy

John Wright John Wright Lauren LangenLauren LangenCathey SilmoneCathey Silmone

Katie TruaxKatie Truax

Zahida's brother brutally attacked her because he alleged she had been unfaithful and brought shame to the family. He cut off her ears, tongue, and nose, gouged out her eyes, and left her for dead.

Some women are burned alive by their families to regain the family honor

These are women who These are women who AllegedlyAllegedly

dishonored their families.dishonored their families.

““Honor killings” refers to the murder of Honor killings” refers to the murder of women by family members or husbands women by family members or husbands as a means of retaining family pride.as a means of retaining family pride.

The Practice of Honor KillingsThe Practice of Honor Killings

Reasons for honor killings include: Reasons for honor killings include: suspicions of infidelity, promiscuity, flirting, suspicions of infidelity, promiscuity, flirting, desire for divorce, and marrying someone desire for divorce, and marrying someone of their own choice.of their own choice.

Honor killings are not sanctioned by Honor killings are not sanctioned by Islamic law or religion.Islamic law or religion.

Honor Killings as a Global ProblemHonor Killings as a Global Problem

Large number of cases are reported mostly in parts of the Middle East and South Asia

Nonetheless, the issue is a global one where other cases have been reported in Bangladesh, Great Britain, Brazil, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Pakistan, Morocco, Sweden, Turkey, and Uganda.

Cultural DefensesCultural Defenses

Idea of tradition and keeping up with the tribal beliefs of the role of women in society

The strong emphasis on family relationships

Women seen as property in the Koran

Belief that the demands of “westerners” deny the different cultural traditions of those practicing honor killings

What is being done?What is being done?

In Jordan, attempts at reforming the country’s penal code that exonerates or lessens the punishment for honor killings, have been made.

CEDAW

UN Resolution

The Convention on the Elimination The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination of All Forms of Discrimination

against Women (CEDAW)against Women (CEDAW)

“…“…Discrimination against women violates Discrimination against women violates the principles of equality of rights and the principles of equality of rights and respect for human dignity, is an obstacle respect for human dignity, is an obstacle to the participation of women, on equal to the participation of women, on equal terms with men, in the political, social, terms with men, in the political, social, economic and cultural life of their economic and cultural life of their countries…”countries…”

JordanJordan

Jordan ratified CEDAW on July 31, 1992.Jordan ratified CEDAW on July 31, 1992. Some of Jordan’s reservations include:Some of Jordan’s reservations include:

• Women do not have equal rights with Women do not have equal rights with men over the nationality of children.men over the nationality of children.

• Women do not have the right to choose Women do not have the right to choose their residence and must live with their their residence and must live with their husbandhusband

• Wives do not have the right to choose Wives do not have the right to choose the family name or their own occupationthe family name or their own occupation

Articles in Violation of CEDAWArticles in Violation of CEDAW Article 1-Does not allow discrimination “in Article 1-Does not allow discrimination “in

any other field” meaning personal/family any other field” meaning personal/family life.life.

Article 2(c)-Women are to be protected of Article 2(c)-Women are to be protected of discrimination in law and the judicial discrimination in law and the judicial system are to give equal rights to men and system are to give equal rights to men and women.women.

Article 2(g)-The country must change all Article 2(g)-The country must change all discrimitory laws against women.discrimitory laws against women.

Article 2(f)-The country must change any Article 2(f)-The country must change any customs or traditions that discriminate customs or traditions that discriminate against women.against women.

Articles in Violation of CEDAWArticles in Violation of CEDAW

5(a)-The country is to change 5(a)-The country is to change discrimination against women by discrimination against women by educating society.educating society.

15(1,2)-Women and men are to have 15(1,2)-Women and men are to have equal opportunities under the law.equal opportunities under the law.

16(1)-Women shall not be 16(1)-Women shall not be discriminated against in their familydiscriminated against in their family

Violations of CEDAWViolations of CEDAW

Article 340 of Jordan’s Penal Code violates Article 340 of Jordan’s Penal Code violates CEDAW because it allows men who CEDAW because it allows men who commit honor killings a lessened prison commit honor killings a lessened prison sentence or not even one at all.sentence or not even one at all.

This is discrimitory because:This is discrimitory because:• There is no law that allows women to kill men There is no law that allows women to kill men

based on “honor killings.”based on “honor killings.”• It promotes and accepts the killings because It promotes and accepts the killings because

men will not have to serve as much time in jail.men will not have to serve as much time in jail.

Violations of CEDAWViolations of CEDAW

Article 98 of Jordan’s Penal Code Article 98 of Jordan’s Penal Code states that, “he who commits a crime states that, “he who commits a crime in a fit of fury caused by unlawful in a fit of fury caused by unlawful and dangerous act on the part of the and dangerous act on the part of the victim benefits from a reduction of victim benefits from a reduction of penalty.”penalty.”• This is discrimitory because:This is discrimitory because:

It is used by men to say the loss of their It is used by men to say the loss of their honor caused them to be “enraged” and honor caused them to be “enraged” and commit the murder, even though most commit the murder, even though most honor killings are premeditated crime.honor killings are premeditated crime.

Violations of CEDAWViolations of CEDAW

Jordan’s Government Jordan’s Government violates the CEDAW by violates the CEDAW by not reporting to the not reporting to the Committee the Committee the discrimitory practice discrimitory practice of honor killings that is of honor killings that is requiredrequired• November 10, 1997 November 10, 1997

report stated that “no report stated that “no practices based on practices based on gender-based inferiority gender-based inferiority or superiority exist.”or superiority exist.”

However, officials However, officials from CEDAW did not from CEDAW did not question Jordan about question Jordan about Honor Killings or tell Honor Killings or tell them they were in them they were in violation of CEDAW by violation of CEDAW by Articles 340 and 98, Articles 340 and 98, despite knowing that despite knowing that honor killings were honor killings were taking place due to taking place due to media attention.media attention.

How would Sophie Scholl or Martin How would Sophie Scholl or Martin Luther King approach this problem?Luther King approach this problem?

Martin Luther King Martin Luther King He had a comprehensive He had a comprehensive

view of human nature, view of human nature, that we are spiritual, that we are spiritual, human, and animal. human, and animal.

I think he would of made I think he would of made a speech saying if this a speech saying if this can happen to a woman, can happen to a woman, then it should be able to then it should be able to happen to a man. If this happen to a man. If this was happening to a was happening to a white it should happen white it should happen to a black as well.to a black as well.

Sophie SchollSophie Scholl A German who was A German who was

against Hitler. She against Hitler. She didn’t agree with what didn’t agree with what he believed.he believed.

I think she would have I think she would have made fliers of some made fliers of some sort to help with this. sort to help with this.

She would of helped to She would of helped to make a difference, I make a difference, I think if she tried she think if she tried she could get people to could get people to agree with her fliers.agree with her fliers.

How Successful would their “foundational” How Successful would their “foundational” philosophies be in reducing the problemphilosophies be in reducing the problem

Sophie Scholl and Martin Luther KingSophie Scholl and Martin Luther King They wanted their own rights and They wanted their own rights and

authority, and should live their own authority, and should live their own lives with their own choosing, without lives with their own choosing, without breaking the law. breaking the law.

Being successful doesn’t necessarily Being successful doesn’t necessarily go with changing ones mind, but go with changing ones mind, but stopping the problem entirely. stopping the problem entirely.

How successful would their “foundational” How successful would their “foundational” philosophies be in reducing this problem. philosophies be in reducing this problem.

Cont…Cont… Martin Luther KingMartin Luther King I think he would have I think he would have

been a big success been a big success with this. With his I with this. With his I Have A Dream speech Have A Dream speech being a big success, I being a big success, I think he would have think he would have made a big success made a big success with this too.with this too.

Sophie SchollSophie Scholl She fought for what She fought for what

she believed in, and I she believed in, and I believe she would believe she would have made the same have made the same effort with this effort with this problem.problem.

Can Can Anti-foundational PhilosophiesAnti-foundational Philosophies be used for be used for changing cultural practices that many consider to changing cultural practices that many consider to be violations of be violations of Fundamental Human RightsFundamental Human Rights??

In other words can we have In other words can we have EthicsEthics without without PrinciplesPrinciples??

•Anti –Foundational PhilosophiesAnti –Foundational Philosophies

•Anti: One who is opposed

•Foundation: A basis upon which something stands or is supported

•Philosophies: a critical study of fundamental beliefs and the grounds for them

What does this all Mean?

Anti-Foundational Philosophies according to Webster’s Dictionary is a critical study of fundamental beliefs which is opposed to and idea upon which something stands or is supported.

Example of an Anti-foundationalistExample of an Anti-foundationalistand his teachings and his teachings

Dr. Richard Rorty Dr. Richard Rorty

““Philosophers who, like myself, Philosophers who, like myself, eschew this distinction must abandon eschew this distinction must abandon the traditional philosophical project the traditional philosophical project of finding something stable which will of finding something stable which will serve as a criterion for judging the serve as a criterion for judging the transitory products of our transitory transitory products of our transitory needs and interest.”needs and interest.”

In other words Dr. Rorty says he In other words Dr. Rorty says he must abandon the search for must abandon the search for something stable (a foundation) by something stable (a foundation) by which to make his decisions upon.which to make his decisions upon.

Example of a Foundationalist and his Example of a Foundationalist and his teachings.teachings.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in hisDr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his Letter Letter from the Birmingham Jailfrom the Birmingham Jail

An unjust law is a human law that is An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in not rooted in eternal laweternal law and and natural natural law.law.

““Conversely, one has a moral Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that I would agree with St. Augustine that an unjust law is no law at allan unjust law is no law at all.”.”

It is clearly shown Mr. King is laying It is clearly shown Mr. King is laying down a down a foundationfoundation by which he is by which he is going to base his decisions on what going to base his decisions on what laws to obey or disobey. laws to obey or disobey.

The standard he uses is the Law of The standard he uses is the Law of God, and the Law of NatureGod, and the Law of Nature

Fundamental Human RightsFundamental Human Rights

FundamentalFundamental: Basic Essential: Basic Essential Human:Human: any species of primate mammal any species of primate mammal

comprising all living persons and their recent comprising all living persons and their recent ancestorsancestors

RightsRights: qualities that constitute what is correct, : qualities that constitute what is correct, just, proper or honorablejust, proper or honorable

What does this Mean?What does this Mean?

Fundamental Human Fundamental Human RightsRights: The basic, essential : The basic, essential qualities that constitute just, qualities that constitute just, proper or honorable proper or honorable treatment to any species of treatment to any species of primate mammal, comprising primate mammal, comprising of all living persons and their of all living persons and their recent ancestors.recent ancestors.

Can Can Anti-foundational PhilosophiesAnti-foundational Philosophies be be used for changing cultural practices that used for changing cultural practices that

many consider to be violations of many consider to be violations of Fundamental Human RightsFundamental Human Rights??

NoNo

Can we have Can we have EthicsEthics with out with out PrinciplesPrinciples

PrinciplesPrinciples: a rule or code of conduct, : a rule or code of conduct, a general or fundamental law, a general or fundamental law, doctrine or assumptiondoctrine or assumption

EthicsEthics: discipline dealing with good : discipline dealing with good and evil and moral dutyand evil and moral duty

There is no way we can have There is no way we can have EthicsEthics without without PrinciplesPrinciples, without one , without one another, How can we have a another, How can we have a discipline dealing with good and discipline dealing with good and evil and a moral duty, if we don’t evil and a moral duty, if we don’t have a code of conduct or a have a code of conduct or a basic, essential foundation by basic, essential foundation by which to base good and evil? It which to base good and evil? It cannot exist.cannot exist.

What are the advantages of an Anit-What are the advantages of an Anit-Foundationalist approach?Foundationalist approach?

An Anti-Foundationalist can sit the An Anti-Foundationalist can sit the fence and never have to take a side. fence and never have to take a side. Not having to have a definite answer Not having to have a definite answer for a question or problem is the for a question or problem is the scapegoat by which they live their scapegoat by which they live their lives.lives.

Works CitedWorks Cited

Honor Killings. American University International Law Review;

Washington College of Law America University. 2001.

Katz, Nikki. What You Need to Know About Honor Killings.

Honor Killings. Women's Issues. About.Com; 4 November 2003.

accessed 11 February 2004. http://

womensissues.about.com/cs/honorkillings/a/honorkillings.htm King, Maritin Luther. King, Maritin Luther. Letter from Birmingham JailLetter from Birmingham Jail. 16 April 1963.. 16 April 1963.

Works Cited

Mayell, Hillary. Thousands of Women Killed for Family

"Honor". NationalGeographic.Com; 12 February 2002. National

Geographic Society. accessed 11 February 2004.

<http://news.nationalgeographic.com/ news/2002/02/0212_0202

12_honorkilling.html>.

Rorty, Richard. Rorty, Richard. Philosophy and Social Hope: Relativism: Finding Philosophy and Social Hope: Relativism: Finding

and making.and making. Penguin Books, 1999 Penguin Books, 1999

Works CitedWorks Cited

Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language: Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language: Copyright Copyright

by by Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated 2001 EditionIncorporated 2001 Edition

United Nations Office of the High Commissoner for Human United Nations Office of the High Commissoner for Human

Rights. Rights. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of

Discrimination against WomenDiscrimination against Women. 3 Sept. 1981. 11 . 3 Sept. 1981. 11

Feb. Feb. 2004. 2004.

<http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/e1cedaw.htm<http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/e1cedaw.htm