ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the accommodation of plurality within today’s European legal systems. After presenting some data on migration and the resulting diversity in Europe, the chapter introduces the political theory of multiculturalism. The relationship between cultural diversity and the law is analysed in different legal domains, in particular within criminal law. The concept of so-called cultural offence is introduced as well as the different solutions proposed in order to cope with this type of crime. The second part of the chapter is devoted to an analysis of international and European legal instruments to combat honour-based violence and forced marriages. Instruments adopted by the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the European Union in this area are presented. Finally, the chapter examines some of the major shortcomings of the mentioned instruments.
