Page 51 Ending Sex Discrimination in the Law EQUALITY NOW – BEIJING+25 “HONOR” KILLINGS Below are examples of laws which must be amended or repealed. EGYPT Penal Code No. 58 of 1937: Article 237. Whoever surprises his wife in the act of adultery and kills her on the spot together with her adulterer-partner shall be punished with detention instead of the penalties prescribed in articles 234 and 236. Note: Article 237 of the Egyptian Penal Code allows for a lesser punishment for men who kill their wives than for other forms of murder. Article 53 of the Constitution of Egypt: All citizens are equal before the law. They are equal in rights, freedoms and general duties without discrimination based on religion, belief, sex, origin, race, color, language, disability, social class, and affiliation. Take Action – Egypt President Ibrahim Mahlab Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Magless El Shaàb Street Al Kasr El Einy Cairo EGYPT Email: feedback@sis.gov.eg egypt@un.int (Mission to the UN in New York) Twitter: @AlsisiOfficial Facebook: facebook.com/egyptgovportal SYRIA The Penal Code: Article 548. He who catches his wife, sister, mother or daughter by surprise, engaging in an illegitimate sexual act and kills or injures them unintentionally must serve a minimum of two years in prison. Note: In 2009 Syria amended Article 548, which previously exempted men who killed their female relatives for ‘honor’ from punishment. This amended law, rather than treating “honor” killings as any other murder, merely imposes a minimum two year prison sentence. In 2011 Syria again amended Article 548, which previously imposed a minimum two year prison sentence, to raise the minimum sentence to five years but placed a ceiling of seven years maximum. The punishment for murder is hard labor for 20 years. Take Action – Syria President Bashar al-Assad Presidential Palace Abu Rummeneh Al-Rashid Street Damascus SYRIA Email Portal: http://portal.egov.sy/contact_us.en_contactus/en/0/0/module. page.html Email: exesec.syria@gmail.com (Mission to the UN in New York) Twitter: @Presidency_Sy Article 23 of the Constitution of Syria: The state guarantees women all opportunities enabling them to fully and effectively participate in the political, social, cultural, and economic life. The state shall work on removing the restrictions that prevent women’s development and participation in building society.