The Danish government established a commission in 2022 with the purpose of strengthening freedom and rights for women with ethnic minority background who are exposed to so-called 'negative social control' and honour-related violence.
 
Women facing these problems in Denmark tend to be refugees, other immigrants and their descendants. They mainly arrive from third countries, in some of which there are certain traditions and social norms that can reduce women's and girls’ freedom of choice when it comes to lifestyle, partner, clothing, employment, and other related issues. They may even involve violence and/or restriction of movement. All of this is harmful to women's integration as well as encroaching on their rights and freedom.

The commission has been subject to criticism by NGOs, rights groups and journalists since its inception. They note that because 7 of its 10 members are native Danes, it cannot be said to be representative of the group in whose interests it was established. In addition, its first report made a set of recommendations including a ban on wearing the hijab in primary schools, which was not well received by the public and was immediately rejected by the government.

Following the replacement of its chairperson and a few of its members, the commision published its second report in January 2025. This report makes 13 new recommendations, including the following:

• Efforts should be made to counter cultural patterns wherein girls and women are expected to behave in a certain way to secure “the honour of the family”.
• Frontline professionals - such as teachers, nurses and social workers - should be qualified to better understand and spot oppressive patterns affecting women and girls.
• More support and information should be made available to young women and girls seeking new accommodation.
• Marriage between cousins should be banned, along with demands to return dowries after divorce.
• Woman who leave a violent husband should be given stronger assurances that they will not lose their residence permit as a result.

The report - attached below - is only available in Danish. The commission can be contacted via peps@uim.dk.