• Laws should clearly state that prosecutors have a duty to investigate all crimes of violence against women and girls, including “honour” crimes and killings. Laws should state that the objectives of prosecutions in “honour” crimes and killings are: (1) to protect the victim, (2) to deter the defendant from further violent acts by holding him accountable for his actions, and (3) to communicate to the community that domestic violence will not be tolerated. (See: Role of Prosecutors, StopVAW)

• Laws should confer responsibility on prosecutors, not victims or their families, for initiating and prosecuting “honour” crimes and killings. Ex officio prosecution should be exercised in all “honour” crimes and killings regardless of the level or type of injury. Legislation should clearly state the prosecutor’s responsibility to pursue prosecution in “honour” cases independent of any private settlements. Laws should state that private settlements or compensations between the victim’s family and the offender do not preclude government-initiated prosecution in “honour” cases. Drafters in countries with religious or customary religious or customary ordinances governing forgiveness and compensation should ensure that these laws do not undermine the prosecutor’s accountability to pursue these cases. Where states lack a criminal offense of “honour” crimes or killings, laws should direct prosecutors to use other criminal statutes, such as assault, battery, harassment, kidnapping, threats of violence, and murder, to prosecute the offender. See: Section on Criminalization of “Honour” Crimes and Killings.

• Because the perpetrators of “honour” crimes are often family members, drafters may wish to provide for absent victim policies, which allow for prosecution without the victim if there is sufficient independent evidence. A victim absent policy should stress the initial gathering of evidence, including the victim's own testimony, and direct prosecutors to work with police in developing and implementing effective strategies to collect additional and supporting evidence. (See: Prosecutorial Reform Efforts, StopVAW) Such evidence should include evidence of the perpetrator’s history of violence, exploitation, or other abuse. At the same time, victims of “honour” crimes should be enabled to testify in court proceedings in a way that protects their privacy and confidentiality, ensures their safety during and after proceedings, and prevents re-victimization. Laws should make clear that victim refusal to testify in “honour” crimes is not an offense. (See: UN Res. A/RES/52/86)

• Laws should require the development of guidelines or protocols for the prosecution of “honour” crimes and killings. The UN Handbook recommends that laws require the appropriate ministerial branch consult with police, prosecutors, judges, health and education professionals to develop regulations, guidelines and other protocols for implementation within a specified timeframe of the law’s entry into force (p. 20-21). Guidelines should state that the overall objective of effective prosecutorial response is to promote the safety of the victim or person at-risk, accomplish the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the perpetrator, and prevent repetition of the crime. Prosecutorial response should be guided by the need to incorporate the needs of “honour” crime victims, respect their dignity and personal integrity, minimize intrusion into their lives, and maintain high standards for collection of evidence. (See: UN Resolution 52/86 revised draft) Protocols or policies may be framed within a domestic violence framework, but should take into account the dynamics particular to “honour”-based violence. Honour-based violence often targets women and girls; it may particularly involve immigrant or ethnic populations; it often involves multiple perpetrators within or outside of the family, and; it involves more subtle, coercive indicators, such as restrictions on freedom of movement, association and communications, that may not be reflected in a domestic violence law that focuses on physical harm.

• Guidelines and protocols for prosecutors should use a clear definition of “honour” crimes and killings that comports with a national definition. Where there is no national definition, policies may define “honour” crimes and killings as “any form of violence against women and girls, in the name of traditional codes of so-called “honour”.” (See: Section on Defining “Honour” Crimes and Honour Killings) Throughout the process, prosecutors should keep the victims informed, throughout all stages of the process and in a language they understand, of their rights, legal proceedings—including the opportunity to participate, scheduling, progress and outcome--services and other support measures, possibilities for seeking reparations, and the release of the offender from detention or prison. Laws should require prosecutors to provide an explanation to the victim in cases where he or she drops a “honour” crimes case. (See: United Nations expert group report entitled "Good practices in legislation on violence against women, p. 40)

• Drafters should designate specialist prosecutors in each of the local areas, who oversee and are the primary responsible authorities on “honour” crimes and killings. At the same time, all prosecutors should undergo trainings on: the dynamics of violence against women, domestic violence, and “honour” crimes and killings; victim and witness care and protection and local support agencies; cultural context and sensitivities, where applicable; coordination with and advising law enforcement; the risks associated with “honour” crimes and killings, such as use of interpreters, identifying potential victims and contributing to risk assessments. Trainings for prosecutors should be conducted in coordination with trainings for law enforcement and judges to enable identification of “honour” cases within the same framework and facilitate communication.

• Laws should direct prosecutors to work in coordination with advocates, health care providers, police, child protection services, local businesses, the media, employers, religious leaders, health care providers, clergy and organizations working with victims and immigrant communities. (See: Coordinated Community Response, StopVAW)

• Laws should establish a monitoring system for “honour” crimes and killings for prosecutors. Monitoring indicators include ethnicity, age, sex, disability, religion and use of weapons or other substances. Any cases of criminal offenses of threatening behavior, violence or abuse, committed as an “honour” crime, should be flagged as both an “honour” and a domestic violence case. All flagged cases should be transmitted to the specialist prosecutor for a final review and confirmation. (See: Monitoring of Laws on Violence against Women) Information sharing systems should also provide information on issued protection and restraining orders so that prosecutors can determine whether such an order is in force. 

(See: CPS Pilot on Forced Marriage and So-called ‘Honour’ Crime – Findings, Crown Prosecution Service, 2008; Recommendations on Future Work on Forced Marriage and So-called ‘Honour’ Crime, Crown Prosecution Service, 2008)