Honor killings are a fact of life in many parts of the world. What do you think it will take to change this cultural practice?

Meena's brothers think they are doing the moral thing, the right thing, by punishing their sister and her husband. Honor killings are a fact of life in many parts of the world. What do you think it will take to change this cultural practice?

When a country is ruled by its faith, and the faith calls for honor killings, there is little chance it will change. Even if the law were changed to forbid honor killings, the faithful that believe in them will continue. Those killings will be covered up by others of that faith. For example, the coroner will attribute the death to natural causes and no investigation will be made.
There are faiths here in the United States that perform honor killings and get by with it. When a faith/society is closed, they can cover up a lot.

Until religion is accepted as the fallacy it is, religious zealots will always want to use power over others. Human nature is not forgiving and man will always want to be better than someone.

I think so much of what is needed are actually things I have no control over. Boy I really wish i did!!! First, I think there needs to be a way to increase educational opportunities in small villages and other rural areas. India is the world's fifth largest economy, but the benefits of that are not being seen or felt by a large number of the population. India is being touted as a "blooming garden of opportunity for investors". Can investors influence changes in culture?? All of the attention seems to be focused on Mumbai- -that is where everyone wants to move to make money. No one is really paying attention to what is happening in rural communities or traditional villages. Is there a religious leader or temple in each village? Economic opportunities for all (besides accepting bribes and stealing from hard working women) throughout the country... Definitely better laws protecting women and ending impunity! Ugh! I'm depressing myself!

I should have looked this up sooner! Honor killings are actually traditional/cultural NOT religious. (Honor killings are actually illegal in most Muslim countries. In India honor killing is not SUPPOSED to be justified in the legal sense) Hmmm... does this give them a lesser or greater chance of being stopped?

I think the most important thing that needs to happen is for women come together to promote change and draw attention to what their daily life is like- -like what is happening in Iran. What is scary to me is that how many women in Iran might have no idea what is going on because they don't have access to the internet, electricity... how would someone in Meena's village know if a protest began in Mumbai? I think a lot of change will also have to be spearheaded and/or supported by men, like Mohan. What will he do with all the new things he has learned about his India?

There is no easy or short-term answer but education of women/girls and ensuring their financial independence are likely to be two key (and linked) catalysts.

acstrine provided insight and well researched information. Thus the culture and religious perceptions need to change especially in rural India. The key will be changing the attitudes of the young through education and opportunities including for women and supporting them and finding the courage oppose their elders.

I’m in agreement w all. However I believe we need to expose this to the world in a neutral way. This is a cultural
more which is difficult to remove. Educate and tell all in the most unbiased manner’

I'm not sure what we can do to bring about change! Someone mentioned the education of women and girls but look what happened in Afghanistan. They were being educated, then the Taliban took over and they're back to ground zero. I think the focus needs to be on men and educating them. It's just such a difficult problem. Jobs, economic security...ensured for all. When those aren't available and extreme poverty is the norm, the tendency is to fall upon a religion. Hoping for a joyous afterlife.

So many things need to change in extremely male dominated countries where women are not valued. Unfortunately the corrupt legal system is operated by males who cover and protect one another. They are assisted by police who don't respond to calls or turn their backs on cries for help. Perhaps the government could set up a national court with judges and lawyers who try these cases. Maybe national help centers could be established to provide housing and protection for those who need to escape their situations, an "Underground Railroad" for women.

I cannot add anything new to all these answers to a very difficult question. I am most in agreement with the answer of Marcia S: people who believe strongly in the precepts and practices of a faith and who live in a community of such believers are unlikely to change their practice. I need to learn more about the Hindu religion and its concept of honor.

Education is the most important thing, I think. The metro areas do not have the same problems. The rural areas are the most likely to keep old traditions. If the new generation receives more education, I believe some of the old ways will go away.

It’s tough to change cultural mores but yes, educating the younger generation will help. It may seem
Horrific to some of us in the western world and more urban areas
Let’s hope we can begin to make change

Honestly, I don't know that things like honor killings can be eliminated. Racism, religious intolerance and misogyny exist everywhere, and though education is probably the best weapon to combat them, we in the USA know that it's quite possible for educated people to still be racist, intolerant misogynsts. If we learned anything from conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Asia, it is that you cannot come in with western values and change people's culture. Tribal cultures are more loyal to their tribes than anyone else, and without internal motivation to change, it won't happen. Perhaps education and providing people an alternative to staying in that environment,so that there is eventually no one left but the bullies, is a solution, but it's slow going.

There was a level of ignorance that was hard to fathom. I don’t believe you can penetrate and make change in that particular situation because the village was so isolated and backward. It would take generations for any change to take place. It would have to start with education and opportunity for both men and women.

I commend all previous participants who have attempted to answer this very tough question. I particularly like sallyh's response, though others also included education as an option to move toward a solution. Unfortunately, in this country we are at odds on what can be taught in our schools as it relates to culture and history. We are moving in the wrong direction.... towards "Our Missing Hearts". Still I don't think we should give up.

As Smita observed when talking with Govind and Rupal, very often honor killings have, at their core, money issues. But regardless of the origin, the mentality that perpetuates mob violence seems, to me, to be at its root. It would require a fundamental change in human psychology to stop these atrocities that have existed and even thrived throughout human history. Not a very hopeful assessment, I wish I could feel more hopeful.

I feel that religion and misogyny deeply influence so many countries' cultures (including the US). This belief system makes people do horrendous things because of their "faith". I think what we're seeing in Iran gives me hope. When the oppressed get sick of it they will fight back. I agree with the rest of you that education is one piece of it.

I agree that the young generation and the education of women are the only things that will change this society.

As an addendum to my previous comment I have to say that education—of both women and men—must include respect for the other. Also essential is compassion for differences. Finally, the seemingly innate characteristic of many people who insist on dominating others, whether through money or force, seems to me to prevent us from achieving the true equality we hope for. Unfortunately, while we are capable of true greatness, we are also flawed.

I don't believe that the practice of honor killings is likely to change. It is well entrenched into the culture of several countries, especially ones that devalue women.

It is so sad to think that honor killings could remain a part of life as we know it, but that should not prevent world leaders and others from attempting to educate all people to the inhumanity of this behavior. Human dignity should somehow prevail over hundreds of years of such oppression.