FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Honor-based violence is a form of gender violence whose objective, on the part of the perpetrator, is the alleged defense or protection of the family or community’s honor. It’s often dictated by rules or customs imposed by parents and relatives whose aim is to limit a woman’s freedom and punish her behavior deemed shameful or inappropriate.

The following are a few examples of what is often considered a violation of the honor code:

• Being engaged without one’s family approval,
• Rejecting an arranged marriage,
• Having a relationship with someone of a different religion,
• Asking for a divorce,
• Wearing clothes or make-up considered “inappropriate,”
• Engaging in PDAs (public display of affection.)

Honor-based violence manifests itself in numerous ways. It is often a collective act that involves more than one member of the family. In most cases, a young girl or woman is mistreated, repudiated by the family or forced to undergo an abortion. Young girls and women are the most common victims of honor-based violence. Nevertheless young men and men can also be victims. 

The following are some examples of how 

honor-based violence manifests itself:

• Physical abuse (kicks and beatings,)
• Psychological pressures (extreme control, humiliating behavior, threats,)
• Forced separations (leaving a person in the country of origin or forcefully sending the person back)
• Forced marriage (coerce a person to marry,)
• Reclusion (constrain a woman from leaving the house alone, controlling contacts,)
• Inducement to commit suicide,
• Honor killing (homicide).

Female Genital Mutilations (FGM) are procedures that involve the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other lesions to the female genital organs for non-medical purposes. They are not part of any religion, and are of no benefit to a woman’s health. To the contrary FGM can cause serious physical and psychological trauma, complications while giving birth and, even,  deaths of both women and newborns.

The custom of FGM is present in all continents, but it is more widespread in Central Africa and in some regions of the Middle East and Asia. The countries that gave the highest incidence are Somalia, Guinea, Djibouti, Sierra Leone, Mali, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ethiopia, Mauritania, Tchad, and Indonesia.

FMG are a serious violation of human rights, and especially target young girls up to the age of 15. It is estimated that over 100 million women worldwide live with the consequences of this custom.

If you need help, contact the National Free Number (800 300 558) from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 2 pm, and from 3 pm to 8 pm. The number is free and confidential. 

To learn more, see the following page:

https://www.differenzadonna.org/fgm/ 

The forced termination of a pregnancy without the informed consent of the victim (woman or girl,) is a harmful procedure, usually practiced on adolescents. We are speaking of any type of abortion done without the fully informed consent of the woman or girl prior to the procedure.

NB: A forced pregnancy is also a violation of women’s human rights.

If on the other hand, you are looking for information on how to voluntarily terminate a pregnancy in Italy, consult the following page:

 https://www.jumamap.it/it/faq/ivg/