Author: cleocosens

Graphic on a dark grey background with a deep red decorative mandala pattern on the right. White text reads 'We partnered with', followed by the Daily Mail logo and 'The Crime Desk' in bold grunge-style lettering. The Savera UK logo appears at the bottom.

Savera UK X The Crime Desk

Savera UK has partnered with The Crime Desk at the Daily Mail to campaign against ‘honour’-based abuse, and improve reporting on the issue.

The campaign series launched last week, revisiting the tragic case of Samaira Nazir, 25, a promising student who in 2005 was stabbed to death by her own brother in their family home in Southall, west London, while her mother watched on. The murder was committed in the name of ‘honour’.

Savera UK worked with The Crime Desk team, senior reporter Piriyanga Thirunimalan and editor Alex Matthews, to advise on language and terminology used in the article, to ensure harmful and inaccurate stereotypes were avoided, and to provide expert information on the wide-reaching characteristics of ‘honour’ and their implications.

The representation of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices in the UK media is an issue that Savera UK has long worked to address. Often inaccurately framed as a ‘cultural’ issue only affecting certain communities, reporting can reinforce harmful stereotypes, stigmatise communities and make these forms of abuse even harder to identify, due to preconceived ideas of who is at risk.

Throughout the campaign, Savera UK will be working to support The Crime Desk team as it examines other HBA and ‘honour’ killing cases and failures within our legal system to properly identify and prosecute the offences. We will also share our research into HBA delivered in partnership with the University of Liverpool, and other frontline expertise to help increase and broaden understanding about HBA amongst the public.

Afrah Qassim, Savera UK CEO and Founder, said: “In the majority of cases in UK media, reporting around ‘honour’-based abuse and ‘honour’ killings is poor at best and harmful and inaccurate at worst. Irresponsible, sensationalist reporting that limits ‘honour’ as a risk to just certain backgrounds not only wrongly demonises communities and perpetuates harmful stereotypes, but it also makes cases that are deemed not to be ‘typical’ harder to identify, meaning there are survivors and people at risk out there who are not getting the support they need.

“Working with Piri and Alex at The Crime Desk, we have seen not just their commitment to raising awareness of ‘honour’-based abuse, but to reporting accurately, responsibly and with care for the stories of those we have lost to ‘honour’. HBA is a complex and nuanced crime that can affect anyone regardless of age, culture, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, or gender. We hope that through this partnership, we are able to increase understanding amongst readers who may have little or no understanding of such issues, so there is greater awareness of the indicators and of routes to help.”

Other projects engaging media include Savera UK’s development and launch of a set of guidelines for journalists reporting on HBA and harmful practices and advice on best practice for working with survivors who want to share their stories. This year, we have also worked with the University of Sheffield on a groundbreaking domestic abuse reporting toolkit for journalism students, journalism educators, journalists and editors, providing expert content for specifically reporting on cases of HBA and harmful practices.

Five women stand together smiling in front of a presentation screen. The screen shows green leaves and text reading 'ESF + Break the violence in the name of honor,' along with a Kristianstads kommun logo.

Savera UK meets Swedish delegation for knowledge exchange

Collaboration and knowledge sharing is a vital element of Savera UK’s work, not just on a local/regional level, but also on an international level.

On Friday 22nd May, 2026, representatives for the social service and education departments of Kristianstad Municipality, an administrative area in southern Sweden, met with the Savera UK team to exchange learnings on supporting survivors and those at risk of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices, as part of a two-year project called “Break the violence in the name of honor”.

The project is co-financed by the European Union, and its goal is to enhance professionals’ competence regarding HBA. The 11 people from Kristianstad Municipality who participated in the study visit included individuals who work directly with persons that face violence in the name of ‘honour’, as well as strategists and leaders. The event was hosted by Savera UK’s research partners, the University of Liverpool.

Savera UK CEO and founder, Afrah Qassim delivered a presentations on the charity’s range of services and activities, including its frontline direct intervention work, community engagement, training and development for professionals and its research partnerships, before inviting Michelle Hulse, from Liverpool City Council to explain Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC), Merseyside’s HBA protocol and how they are utilised to safeguard survivors and those at risk of HBA and harmful practices in Merseyside.

The Swedish delegation then shared information on the study project, how Kristianstad Municipality works with HBA and delivered a short presentation of the legal framework regarding HBA in Sweden, before the floor was opened to questions, allowing for an afternoon of fruitful, intriguing and instructive conversation.

Paula Nauckhoff, Project Leader against honour-based violence and oppression, Work and Social Welfare Department said: “The objective of our study project is to improve our service towards survivors and people at risk of HBA, in terms of prevention, protection and long-term support. Through our visit we were keen to understand how Savera UK and its partners work with this issue and if there is some best practice that can be relevant for Kristianstad Municipality.

“We learned a lot from this lovely and meaningful event and we were impressed by Savera UK’s wide range of work, from their work with community, their creative work through art, their collaboration with researchers and local authorities, especially social service.

“We believe that future collaboration with Savera UK will be possible, especially considering the range of information and common grounds that we have identified and we look forward to working together in the future.”

Afrah Qassim, Savera UK CEO and founder, added: “We would like to thank the team from Kristianstad Municipality for visiting us as part of their study project and for the important discussions and opportunity to share knowledge.

“Globally, there is still limited data around HBA and a lack of understanding of the issue, particularly amongst professionals. It is absolutely vital that the individuals and organisations who are working relentlessly to end HBA and harmful practices come together to share approaches, discuss challenges and find ways to work together collaboratively.

“By working together, with groups like our friends from Kristianstad Municipality, we can improve identification, responses and outcomes for survivors and people at risk around the world.”

A laptop screen displaying a research article titled "A Critical Exploration of the Divergence in Honour-Based Abuse Characteristics Across Geographical Origins," published in the Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling, Volume 23, Issue 2, June 2026. The article is open access and was first published on 29 May 2026. To the right of the laptop, bold decorative text reads "NEW RESEARCH" in white with patterned lettering on an orange background. At the bottom left are the logos for Savera UK and the University of Liverpool.

Savera UK study examines relationship between geographical origin and characteristics of HBA

Savera UK’s fourth research paper, in partnership with the University of Liverpool, has been published in the Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling.

The research, ‘A Critical Exploration of the Divergence of ‘Honour’-Based Abuse Characteristics Across Geographical Origins’ (Ritchie, Rebecca, Almond, Louise, Qassim, Afrah, McManus, Michelle and Chantler, Khatidja. 2026) aimed to obtain base rate information on survivors’ geographical origin and determine if characteristics of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) are significantly associated with the geographical origin of survivors.

With limited research examining variations in HBA characteristics based on the demographics and geographical origin of survivors, the investigation seeks to fill this void.

The paper used data originally obtained from Savera UK for the 2022 descriptive study ‘HBA: A descriptive study of survivor, perpetrator, and abuse characteristics’ (Ridley et al 2022) and comprised 149 cases in which the geographical origin of the survivor was known, with 29 nationalities identified.

To investigate characteristics based on the geographical origin of survivors, their nationality was grouped into five categories based on their geographical continent: Middle Eastern (31.5%), South Asian (36.9%), African (22.1%), European (8.1%) and Other* (1.3%). 

The analysis found eight significant differences, including ‘language barrier’, which was considerably more prevalent in the Middle Eastern group than in the South Asian group, ‘Perpetrator is a family member’ which was more prevalent in the Middle Eastern and South Asian samples than in the African sample, and ‘threats to remove children’ being more prominent in Middle Eastern and African groups, compared to South Asian survivors.

The European group demonstrated the most distinctive prevalent characteristics compared to other categories, including ‘location risk’, ‘perpetrator history of violence’ and ‘court proceedings’, with the latter in particular suggesting that European survivors have a higher success rate when trying to access justice. Due to the limited sample size for this group, these findings should be viewed with caution but also serve as an argument for further research examining a larger sample size, as HBA in European communities is understudied at present.

Overall, the study demonstrates that not all HBA cases are the same and that characteristics and perpetrators can vary based on place of origin. This finding is important because better understanding of these differences can aid in the identification of future cases, particularly in those cases hidden within ‘traditional’ forms of domestic abuse, where police and frontline practitioners’ preconceived notions about HBA may prevent early intervention, putting survivors at risk.

The results of the study reveal an opportunity to develop a HBA specific risk assessment that would help public bodies and non-profits better identify abuse and support survivors, while professional training utilising this information may also aid better future identification of HBA and increase understanding of this nuanced and complex offence.

Rebecca Ritchie, University of Liverpool teacher and PhD student, said: “Research within this area is crucial given the heterogeneity of HBA cases. This can understandably complicate the identification of HBA. This current study helps to provide evidence for these differences, which not only serves as validation for survivors of HBA but also contributes towards an evidence base for organisations who assist survivors of this form of abuse.”

Professor Louise Almond, University of Liverpool, said: “Through our research partnership with Savera UK, we seek to produce robust evidence that informs policy, practice, and public understanding. This latest paper examines the similarities and differences between geographical origins, providing valuable insights to support the delivery of tailored interventions for survivors of honour-based abuse (HBA)”

Afrah Qassim, Savera UK CEO and Founder, said: “We continue to build on our research with our partners at the University of Liverpool to fill the gaps in knowledge about HBA and harmful practices. Limited data and lack of research in this area is allowing people at risk to slip through the net and perpetrators to abuse with impunity. Greater understanding of the nuances of this type of abuse will increase identification and improve outcomes for survivors.”

Read the full paper here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jip.70018

*Due to its small sample size, the ‘other’ category was removed from analysis.

Savera UK publishes its Theory of Change, text on an orange branded graphic with a colourful circular pattern in teal and green.

Savera UK publishes its Theory of Change

Savera UK has today published its first ever “Theory of Change” visualisation, describing the social change that will be enacted through the charity’s work.

Our Theory of Change, which was developed with the support of the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales, is separated into two key audiences: survivors and those at risk of ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices and professionals, community and general public.

Both highlight the demand that the charity faces, its strategic response, the likely course of change and the immediate and lasting impacts of the work delivered by Savera UK’s direct intervention, training, education, community, communications and campaigns teams to address that demand.

The Theory of Change has been published ahead of the upcoming launch of its new five-year strategy, and will be used as a tool to build shared understanding with internal and external stakeholders about Savera UK’s organisational purpose, as well as informing its strategic plan and evaluating its ongoing impact.

Savera UK CEO, Afrah Qassim, said: “Developing our Theory of Change with the support of consultant Abi Tweed, from Milestone tweed, funded by Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales has allowed us to define our work and its likely impact and created a tool to help us develop our next five-year strategy, communicate our work and create shared understanding and keep us focused on our mission.”

You can view our Theory of Change here: https://www.saverauk.co.uk/our-theory-of-change/ 

A laptop screen displaying a research article titled "Practitioner Views on Defining 'Honour'-Based Abuse: A Focus on Atypical Cases," published in the Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling (Volume 23, Issue 2, June 2026). The article is open access and was first published 23 March 2026. The Savera UK logo appears at the top of the image, which has a decorative white and yellow abstract background.

NEW RESEARCH: Lack of understanding of ‘honour’-based abuse negatively impacting identification of atypical cases

NEW RESEARCH: Lack of understanding of ‘honour’-based abuse negatively impacting identification of atypical cases

New research from Savera UK and the University of Liverpool into the definition of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) amongst professionals has highlighted a lack of understanding of HBA that is negatively impacting the identification and prosecution of atypical cases and creating barriers to survivors accessing support.

The thematic analysis ‘Practitioner Views on Defining ‘Honour’-Based Abuse: A Focus on Atypical Cases’, published in the Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling*, presents the findings of interviews conducted with 10 HBA experts on how it should be defined when considering atypical cases.

HBA is stereotypically attributed to certain communities, with available data showing that recognised HBA survivors are predominantly Muslim (74.8%) South Asian (36.9%) or Middle Eastern (31.5%)**. In this paper, ‘atypical’ refers to cases outside of these demographics.

While evidence shows that HBA can be found in all communities, most literature focuses on HBA in stereotypical demographics and media narratives of “fanaticism in other faiths” feeds into this cultural framing of the issue. This paper argues that this limits the understanding among both public and frontline professionals of cases of HBA in atypical communities, which practitioners interviewed identified as Jewish, Chinese, Travelling communities, white British, Christian, American and African.

The paper also highlighted that viewing HBA as a form of violence against women and girls (VAWG) was diverting attention from a sizable minority of men and boys affected by HBA and forced marriage. All participants in the study mentioned the occurrence of men and boys as victims, with unapproved career choices and being LGBTQ+ referenced as key triggers for perpetration. This gendered lens also caused instances of female perpetration to be overlooked or attributed to coercion from male counterparts.

Analysis revealed two overarching themes. The first was ‘honour’ as motivation and multiple perpetrators, which formed the need to distinguish HBA from domestic abuse (DA). The second was poor understanding of HBA, different risks being present in different populations and that HBA can affect anyone, which formed the argument for a better understanding of HBA to improve practice.

The paper highlights how, although HBA may be overrepresented in certain cultures or amongst certain demographics (e.g. male-on-female perpetration), it is not exclusive and until atypical cases are properly explored, understanding of this phenomenon cannot be claimed.

Exploring poor understanding of HBA among professionals, the paper flags the issue of ‘race anxiety’, where the fear of being culturally insensitive or being considered racist prevents professionals from taking appropriate action, leaving individuals at risk – an outcome of viewing HBA through a cultural lens. Similarly, focusing too much on gender can also cause ‘tunnel vision’ whereby male survivors and female perpetrators are dismissed based on stereotypes.

The study acknowledged that while HBA can happen to anyone, stereotypical cases may involve more serious risks than atypical cases. However, in white communities’ ‘honour’ may be attributed to a much wider range of beliefs. Taking the over-simplified view that HBA is abuse perpetrated against an individual due to them behaving against ‘norms’ and expectations, participants in the study also drew parallels between non-familial gang violence and HBA, with similarities drawn in relation to the presence of shared views ‘honour’ and status within a given community (e.g. the gang).

Elements identified to improve response to HBA included the need for a statutory definition of HBA, which Savera UK alongside other HBA charities are advocating for through the #Push4Change campaign. This would fill in gaps in understanding and identification, facilitate smoother multiagency collaboration and to contribute greater resources and support for all survivors, whether from atypical or stereotypical populations.

Given the multifaceted nature of HBA, response techniques like those used in organised crime cases may be more appropriate, such as undercover officers, coordinated arrests for multiple perpetrators and new identities and police protection for survivors.

Beth Roper, former researcher at University of Liverpool, now Forensic Psychology doctoral researcher at the University of the West of Scotland said: “Our findings highlight a significant gap in understanding HBA, which continues to impact identification and response. By focusing on atypical cases, this research demonstrates that HBA is not limited to specific demographics and can affect anybody. A broader, more inclusive understanding of HBA across policy, practice, and public contexts is needed to ensure all survivors can access appropriate support.”

Professor Louise Almond, University of Liverpool, said: “Conducting this research has broadened my understanding of the diverse ways in which HBA can present, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or culture. The study’s findings highlight a clear gap in understanding, which negatively impacts identification, reporting, and organisational responses.”

Afrah Qassim, CEO and Founder, Savera UK, said: “The findings of this study clearly indicate a lack of understanding that negatively impacts identification, reporting and response. More research into and acknowledgement of atypical HBA cases is vital as better understanding of these will break existing stereotypes and reduce barriers to survivors from such populations coming forward for help. As an organisation we have long campaigned for HBA to be seen as an issue that can affect anyone, regardless of age, culture, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, or gender and we want to drive change that allows people at risk and survivors from any background to access the help that they need.”

Read the full paper here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jip.70013

 

References

* Roper, B., L. Almond, A. Alam, S. Waring, M. McManus, M. and A. Qassim. 2026. “Practitioner Views on Defining ‘Honour’-Based Abuse: A Focus on Atypical Cases.” Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling

** Ridley, K., L. Almond, N. Bafouni, and A. Qassim. 2022. “Honour’‐ Based Abuse: A Descriptive Study of Survivor, Perpetrator and Abuse Characteristics.” Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling 20

Savera UK's section of the Domestic Abuse Reporting Toolkit, showing guidelines for journalists on how to report on 'honour'-based abuse and harmful practices including forced marriage, spiritual abuse and conversion therapy.

Savera UK supports launch of groundbreaking domestic abuse reporting toolkit

A groundbreaking toolkit to help journalism students, journalism educators, journalists and editors report accurately and ethically on domestic abuse has been launched by the University of Sheffield with expert guidance from Savera UK.

Savera UK contributed to a section of the toolkit focused specifically on reporting on cases of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices, including forced and child marriage, female genital mutilation, conversion ‘therapy’ and spiritual abuse.

The section covering HBA and harmful practices comprises short explainer videos about the issues, guidance for writing on the topic and working with survivors as well as further learning resources and links to research.

Development of the toolkit has been led by Michelle Rawlins, a journalism educator at the University of Sheffield. Michelle has drawn on her 30 years’ experience as a national journalist to create the Domestic Abuse Reporting Toolkit. The aim is to help journalism students, journalism educators, journalists and editors report on the subject, which affects a huge portion of society, in a way that can help create positive and impactful change.

Michelle has collaborated with Sheffield Women’s Aid, the Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS), Savera UK, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, domestic abuse survivors, including Claire Throssell, prominent and highly respected campaigners, researchers and women’s refuges, to create a comprehensive set of interactive guidelines, teaching materials and resources to help and support anyone reporting on domestic abuse, stalking, ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices.

The resource is free to access and aims to ensure the reporting of domestic abuse, in all its nuanced guises and is survivor centred, allowing the voices of those who have been impacted to be heard in a way which is thoughtful, supportive and meaningful. The toolkit will continue to evolve post-launch, with new and emerging information and guidance being added as it becomes available.

Michelle Rawlins said: “Savera UK worked with me to create a set of meaningful guidelines that will empower journalists and editors to report ethically and effectively on ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices with the knowledge and insight to create positive and impactful change. Together we can all make a difference, with the ultimate aim of helping those who are impacted and give a voice to those who are often unheard.”

Savera UK CEO and Founder, Afrah Qassim, said: “Working on the front line, we see first-hand the impact of uninformed reporting on ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices like forced marriage, FGM, conversion ‘therapy’ and spiritual abuse. Incorrect terminology, stereotyping and suggesting that these human rights violations are part of a specific culture or community is deeply harmful to already-marginalised groups.

“Poor reporting risks demonising communities, puts individuals at risk of harm and breaks down trust that has been hard-won by frontline organisations like Savera UK. This in turn makes it even harder for survivors and people at risk to come forward to access lifesaving and life-changing help.

“We developed our media guidelines to address the gaps in knowledge on these issues, and we are proud to see them included in The Domestic Abuse toolkit that has been created by Michelle Rawlins at the University of Sheffield, alongside other content created by our team and other survivors and specialist services.

“We are especially pleased to see HBA provided its own space and focus, as although a form of domestic abuse, it has specific characteristics that journalists should be aware of and consider in their reporting. The toolkit is a vital resource, and we look forward to supporting its evolution and empowering journalists with the knowledge they need to report more ethically and effectively on HBA and harmful practices.”

Domestic Abuse campaigner, Claire Throssell, whose two children were cruelly murdered by their own father, in October 2014, on a court approved access visit, said: “This toolkit will support, guide and prepare students journalists to empower and enable all victims and survivors to be able to share their experiences in a powerful and impactful way. This toolkit paves the way to reporting on an issue that affects all of society and handles correctly the articles written may lead to lasting changes in the UK and across the world.”

For more information or to access the Domestic Abuse Reporting Toolkit, visit: https://sites.google.com/sheffield.ac.uk/domesticabusetoolkit/home

 

Seven women pose together for a group photo at the launch of Savera UK's Duality Vessels: Voices of Strength exhibition. The group is arranged across two rows against an exposed brick wall, with colourful artwork and blue-tinted lighting visible in the background, suggesting a gallery or event space. Four women stand in the back row and three crouch or kneel in the front. Several women are holding bouquets of tulips and mixed flowers. One woman in the back row is dressed in a formal military uniform. a black jacket with red detailing and a peaked cap, while the others wear a range of smart casual clothing, including a floral dress, a leopard-print scarf with a camel coat, a hijab, and colourful layered textiles. In the front row, one woman wears a red beret and a black-and-white striped top, and another wears a salmon-pink blazer. All seven women are smiling and facing the camera.

Community artists launch Savera UK exhibition

 Community artists have launched Savera UK’s exhibition exploring themes related to culture, identity, and the issues of ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices, including forced marriage, conversion ‘therapy’ and spiritual abuse.

Duality Vessels: Voices of Strength, is the outcome of a creative arts initiative from Savera UK. It was officially opened earlier this month at St George’s Hall Stable Gallery, in the Café 1854, by three of its artists, Omima, Shirley and Faye.

The exhibition, which features collage, photography and sculpture, brings visibility to abuse that is often kept hidden by silence and control, and explores identity, resilience, culture and lived experience.

Following a welcome by Savera UK CEO and Founder, Afrah Qassim, and a thought-provoking reflection on the exhibition by Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside, Natalie Reeves Billing, invited guests learned about how the artworks were created and the objective of the project from facilitator Amina Bihi.

To formally open the exhibition, three of its artists then took centre stage to talk about their artworks, share their experience of the programme and the impact that it has had on them.

Speaking of the creative arts programme, participant Omima said: “For this project we had to make something strong with very fragile materials. It reflects how women feel and how we can transfer this pain to become strength. Art allows you to say things you are afraid to say or don’t feel comfortable saying.

“In this project I found a way to express myself, even though English is not my first language. I didn’t have the words, but I had the feelings and art allowed me to express them.”

Fellow participant, Shirley, said: “One of the big things about the programme was the feeling of contentment in the space we worked in, of feeling safe to be completely who you were. It was like a friendship circle in the way we were working. Everyone could see each other’s work and be inspired by one another.

“In terms of art, it exposed me to a lot of different skills, it really built my confidence and made me believe that I could create something worthy. Another massive impact was that the programme allowed me to put myself in the position of a person who had lived experience of ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices and understand better what they might be experiencing and how I might become a better ally to those people and how I could reflect that in my art.

“My knowledge and understanding of these issues has increased but I think I am very much at the beginning of my learning journey. I hope that visitors to the exhibition will start to think about survivors, the experiences they are facing, and how to reach out to them.”

Faye, a local artist from London but now living in Toxteth, said: “The exhibition is about vessels, it’s about duality, it’s about looking at abuse through the eyes of a survivor, but it’s mainly about a group of women going through their struggles through their art and connecting as women in a room.

“Savera UK has taught me about ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices, and it has challenged me to be aware, not just looking out for the signs of someone who might need support but also by being an advocate and also looking at ways to communicate this through art. I really am grateful to be part of this project and to the Savera UK team for the work they do.”

The exhibition will be open to the public until Monday 30th April 2026. There will also be a series of workshops connected to themes in the exhibition, including an immersive sound bath (women only event) on Wednesday 8th April (10am – 12pm), and a HBA and harmful practices workshop led by Savera UK on Thursday 16th April (10am – 12pm). These sessions are free, but donations are welcome. Places are limited so booking is required.

Savera UK is a leading charity working to end ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and other harmful practices, including forced marriage, spiritual abuse and conversion ‘therapy’. It provides lifesaving and life-changing services for survivors and those at risk, regardless of age, culture, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, or gender. It also provides help and advice for professionals, training and education and research. In the last year alone, Savera UK has helped 339 clients and received almost 700 calls to its national helpline and submissions to its online referral forms.

If you think you or someone you know is at risk of or experiencing HBA or harmful practices, you can contact our national helpline 0800 107 0726 (10am – 4pm, weekdays excluding bank holidays). If you are at immediate risk, please ring 999.

For all Savera UK events, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/savera-uk-113801969251

Three portrait photos side by side on a dark background. Each woman faces the camera wearing a hand-painted mask. Left: a woman in a red beret and black-and-white striped top with a small red heart, wearing a purple-and-white mask with a black X over the mouth and painted tear marks. Centre: a woman draped in a dark veil, wearing a bright blue mask with gold paint across the forehead and cheeks. Right: a woman in a navy headscarf and colourful patterned clothing, wearing a green, cream and purple mask with small painted details around the nose and mouth.

Savera UK launches community art exhibition: “Duality Vessels: Voices of Strength”

The exhibition at St George’s Hall will run from Tuesday 10th March until Monday 30th April 2026.

Savera UK, a leading charity established in Merseyside to help people affected by ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices, is launching a community art exhibition at St George’s Hall in March.

Duality Vessels: Voices of Strength, will be located in the Stable Gallery’s Café 1854 Space and will feature artworks created by women from the Liverpool City Region that address the issues of HBA and harmful practices, which include forced marriage, conversion ‘therapy’ and spiritual abuse. 

Through creative expression in mediums including collage, photography and sculpture, the exhibition brings visibility to abuse that is often kept hidden by silence and control, exploring identity, resilience, culture and lived experience.

Following a private launch event for the artists, their guests and supporters of Savera UK on Monday 9th March, the exhibition will be open to the public from Tuesday 10th March until Monday 30th April 2026.

There will also be a series of workshops connected to themes in the exhibition, including a coffee morning delivered in partnership with RASA Merseyside on Wednesday 18th March (10am – 12pm), an immersive sound bath (women only event) on Wednesday 8th April (10am – 12pm), and a HBA and harmful practices workshop led by Savera UK on Thursday 16th April (10am – 12pm). These sessions are free, but donations are welcome. Places are limited so booking is required.

A selection of pieces from the first phase of the community art project, which was funded by the Community Foundation for Merseyside, were previewed at Savera UK’s “March to End HBA & Festival of Culture” last summer [September 2025]. 

Led by facilitator Amina Bihi, the project involved a variety of activities, including mask-making, collage workshops, stop-motion animation, photography, and portrait series. These activities allowed participants to explore themes related to culture, identity, and understanding and/or experiences of HBA, while developing their artistic skills and practising mindfulness.

Speaking of the exhibition, which has been delivered following two eight-week courses, Amina said: “Each artwork in the exhibition acts as a vessel — carrying memory, emotion, and meaning. The works reflect duality: concealment and revelation, protection and vulnerability, cultural expectation and personal freedom. Together, they speak to the complex ways individuals navigate identity while living within, or resisting, control and judgment.”

Afrah Qassim, Savera UK CEO and founder added: “Artistic expression is a powerful force for challenging harms in our communities, and it takes great courage and creativity to share these experiences publicly. I am so proud of all the artists involved for creating an empowering exhibition that not only raises awareness of HBA and harmful practices, but also holds space for healing and compassion. These artworks have the power to open important dialogue around these issues, drive change and foster understanding.”

In the last year alone Savera UK has helped 339 clients and received almost 700 calls to its national helpline and submissions to its online referral forms. As well as seeing a 51% increase in referrals for forced marriage and 33% increase for FGM, it also noted a much more significant increase in less well-recognised harmful practices. These include spiritual abuse, where referrals doubled, referrals relating to sexuality and gender (125% increase) and forced servitude, referrals for which increased by 433%.

If you think you or someone you know is at risk of or experiencing HBA or harmful practices, you can contact our national helpline 0800 107 0726 (10am – 4pm, weekdays excluding bank holidays). If you are at immediate risk, please ring 999.

For more information about Savera UK, visit: www.saverauk.co.uk 

For all Savera UK events, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/savera-uk-113801969251

A diverse group of women march through a city street holding Savera UK placards calling to end female genital mutilation and ‘honour’-based abuse. Signs include bold messages such as “END FGM” and “END HBA,” alongside tribute posters reading “We march for…” with illustrated portraits and names of victims. The crowd walks closely together, showing solidarity and collective action.

Why is FGM Awareness Essential for Safeguarding Professionals?

As part of Zero Tolerance of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) day, held Friday 6th February, we interviewed Dr Susan Waigwa, Savera UK trustee and board member, about her concerns regarding professionals’ awareness of FGM. 

Dr Waigwa is a qualified public health and social work professional with extensive expertise in both practice and research. Her research mainly focuses on subjects related to women’s health, such as menopause, childbirth-related trauma, domestic abuse, and harmful practices, including forced marriage and FGM/cutting. Susan has abundant skills and experience working with marginalised and minoritised communities both in the UK and abroad. 

Why are you a trustee for Savera UK? 

Having worked for years addressing ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices both in research and practice. I formed a good impression of Savera UK from the first time I heard about their work. Their ambitions, as outlined in their mission and vision, align closely with my own to end HBA and harmful practices. That is what motivated me to join as a trustee. 

What is the importance of a campaign to raise awareness of FGM for professionals in the UK? 

It is important to raise awareness of FGM for professionals in the UK because FGM is a harmful practice that has manifested in different forms over the decades. Historical and current data show that it affects many ethnic groups across the world, making it a global public health concern.

It is a violation of human rights and has long-lasting, detrimental impacts on those subjected to the harmful practice. Its indirect impact extends beyond victims and survivors, affecting their families, support networks and wider communities. 

UK professionals therefore require ongoing and structured engagement in FGM awareness training to keep up to date with prevalence, modes of practice, developments in safeguarding, care pathways and prevention strategies. 

Without continuous professional engagement, there’s a risk of outdated knowledge and weakened safeguarding responses, which may lead to missed opportunities to prevent FGM and protect those at risk.

Why do professionals stay silent even when they suspect risk, and how does that impact survivors? 

FGM continues to be avoided or approached with uncertainty by many professionals, and many still feel uncomfortable initiating and engaging with conversations about the subject. 

Some professionals fear that the severity of the practice may affect their own well-being, while others worry that intervening may be seen as interfering and judging an individual’s ‘culture’. Many others also feel that they lack the required information, skills or resources to offer the right help. 

This silence significantly limits survivors’ access to effective support. UK professionals must strengthen their confidence by utilising the available resources offered by specialist services like Savera UK. 

As the saying goes, “fear is a reaction, courage is decision”.

Thank you to Dr Susan Waigwa, for her powerful insights and encouragement to professionals to engage with the resources and training available to strengthen safeguarding against FGM.

 

Resource and training options: 

 

#EndFGM #ZeroToleranceForFGM #InvestToEndFGM #ItHappensHere