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| Title | Gambia: Information on reports of crimes of honour in which a father might kill his daughter when she marries a man of her choice instead of entering an arranged marriage of her father's choice |
| Publisher | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Country | Gambia |
| Publication Date | 1 September 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GMB18430.E |
| Cite as | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Gambia: Information on reports of crimes of honour in which a father might kill his daughter when she marries a man of her choice instead of entering an arranged marriage of her father's choice, 1 September 1994, GMB18430.E, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/3ae6acc24.html [accessed 27 May 2012] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Gambia: Information on reports of crimes of honour in which a father might kill his daughter when she marries a man of her choice instead of entering an arranged marriage of her father's choice
According to Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993, marriages in Gambia are usually arranged (1994, 110). A representative of the African Canadian Solidarity in Ottawa explained that in Gambia, marriage is an arrangement between two families and not two individuals (14 Sept. 1994). When a girl refuses to marry the man of her father's choice, the father feels humiliated and loses face in the community (ibid.). The community will perceive this as the girl's family rejecting the boy's family and a violent fight might erupt between the two families (ibid.). Furthermore, the father of the girl might disown and beat her severely (ibid.). If a girl brings dishonour to her family, she will be ostracized by the community (ibid.). The source stated that crimes of honour are not usually reported because of "community complicity".
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Country Reports for Human Rights Practices 1993. 1994. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: States Government Printing Office.
African Canadian Solidarity. 14 September 1994. Telephone interview with representative.
Topics: Violence against women,
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