As someone who feels deeply for the victims of honor-based crimes and has been moved by the countless accounts of female genital mutilation, I am compelled to bring about change. Honor-based crimes are internationally condemned acts of violence, primarily against girls and women. The United Nations reports that approximately 5,000 so-called 'honor' killings are recorded around the world each year, although the true number is likely to be much higher (The United Nations). Furthermore, the World Health Organization estimates that more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation in the countries where the practice is concentrated.

We need to work for a global end to honor-based abuse and crimes, liberating victims, and bringing offenders to justice. This requires changing the legislation worldwide that indirectly allows these atrocious acts to continue. My goal through this petition is to lobby for stricter law enforcement with maximum life sentences for offenders and the elimination of the word 'honor' from these vile crimes.

Equally important is empowering victims to come forward. They need to know they aren’t alone. We need their courage to inspire change and stop this worldwide injustice.

Honor-based crimes are not honorable. They are brutal, inhumane, and against every human right principle. It's high time we rise as a collective society against these atrocities. Sign this petition to support a world free from the shadows of honor-based crimes.