Amy Logan

Activist, author and filmmaker Amy Logan will offer her perspective from 20 years studying and challenging a global and local, pervasive and insidious form of violence against women – so-called “honor violence”. This traditional practice can include threats, harassment, stalking, false imprisonment, sexual/physical/verbal/emotional abuse, forced and child marriage, female genital mutilation and “honor killing”. There are 800 million women and girls living in cultures under the “honor code” globally – and immigrants from these societies in the USA are no exception. 20,000+ females are murdered annually for “honor” and many times more suffer related crimes, yet this pandemic isn’t considered a crisis worthy of world leaders’ priority. Much “honor violence” happens under the radar, most perpetrators go unpunished – and are even celebrated as heroes – and the issue is still taboo to directly confront in many places. American “honor violence”, like domestic violence 30 years ago, is mostly hidden, unknown by law enforcement and unchallenged. Amy will explore the origins of “honor violence”, the current landscape, the obstacles to addressing it and what needs to be done to end this scourge. A two-time survivor of gender-based violence, Amy will also share how she moved beyond victimhood through her art, research and activism by uncovering a secret that could empower women worldwide.