A review of child protection practices has identified ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) as an area where social care and safeguarding professionals would benefit from more “time, resources and training”.

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel said senior managers needed to give practitioners these three things to ensure effective safeguarding and to promote “safe professional challenge” within and between agencies, as well as allowing them to gain knowledge, skill and confidence.

‘Honour’-based abuse was identified in the report as an area with skills gaps, along with intrafamilial child sexual abuse and complex mental health issues. 

Speaking of the report Afrah Qassim, CEO and Founder of Savera UK, said: “This report echoes other studies and highlights the need for more time, resources and training in challenging areas such as the one we work in.

“Savera UK was established in 2010 because we knew that ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices like female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage were occurring in communities across the UK, but going unidentified or not receiving an appropriate response. 

“This was largely down to a lack of awareness in spotting the signs and understanding of these issues, as well as a reluctance to challenge them when they were identified, for fear of causing offence or being accused of discrimination.

“We have seen progress in the last 14 years through working with frontline professionals to educate and better equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to address these issues and provide those at risk the help they need.

“To stop HBA and harmful practices, it is often necessary to challenge communities, other professionals, local authorities and other agencies. Specific and specialist training is needed to ensure that professionals have the skills and the tools to do this effectively and confidently.

“This report makes it clear that practitioners can only gain these skills with enough time and the right resources and training, so this must be a priority for decision makers and senior leaders in the sector.”

To find out more about Savera UK’s HBA and harmful practice training, click here.

Before we go for our festive break, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you – our Savera UK champions – for all your support in 2023.

It has been a year of exciting growth and development for Savera UK, with the implementation of the first year of our three-year strategy, our brand evolution and the launch of our Savera UK Learning Hub. We have expanded our 1-2-1 Direct Intervention services into Cheshire through our new partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer, and we have welcomed eight new team members, with one more – our Youth and Education Officer – due to join us in January 2024. We are also recruiting for a Training and Development Manager to lead on our new Training and Education Project, which is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund

The festive break is a time for rest but also for reflection. As I look back, I see that we have achieved a great deal as a team this year, all steps towards our overall mission of ending ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices for good. However, we could not do this alone.

We would like to thank our partners, particularly Merseyside PCC and Cheshire PCC, and our funders, including the National Lottery Community Fund, Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales, Smallwood Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation and The Henry Smith Charity. Thank you also to all of our individual donors and those who go out of their ways to fundraise for us. We are grateful to you for believing in us and providing us with the means, resources and platforms to raise awareness, help survivors and those at risk and challenge HBA and harmful practices in all forms.

We would also like to thank our Governance Board for for providing high quality leadership in the development of the organisation, our Advisory Board for their help and guidance, which is always appreciated, and our Savera UK Youth, who work tirelessly and never stop raising their voices to educate people about HBA and harmful practices and how to end them. They fill us with pride and are a constant source of hope for the future. Enormous appreciation also to our team, which is committed, passionate and never gives up on our mission to ensure change does happen and provide an outstanding intervention to our clients, ensuring their safeguarding is a priority 

Finally, we would like to thank and celebrate our brave clients, many of whom have shared their stories and experiences in our campaigns, in the hope that they will help others. Their strength and power is a constant source of inspiration for us. When we see them safe and flourishing in their ‘savera’ – their new beginning – we see what a world without HBA and harmful practices can look like and it pushes us to keep striving for that vision.

Wishing you all a safe, happy and restful festive break – see you in 2024!

Afrah Qassim

CEO & Founder

Savera UK

 

On Friday 8th December Savera UK brought together human rights barrister Dexter Dias KC, Savera UK survivor ambassador and IKWRO campaigner, Payzee Mahmod and Kim Johnson MP, for a discussion about culture, ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices and the law.

The event, delivered in partnership with LJMU and chaired by Dr Hannah Baumeister from LJMU, also included input from Savera UK CEO and Founder, Afrah Qassim, and testimony from one of the charity’s clients.

Following introductions, to start the event, an audio recording of Fato* sharing her story was played to attendees, highlighting the devastating impact of HBA and the work Savera UK does to help survivors and those at risk.

“No Justice”

During her testimony, she said: “I fled my home as I got no justice whatsoever from the police. I fled to the United Kingdom to seek refuge. When I got here, I believed I was safe for some time, but when I found out that my ex-partner intended on coming to the UK and his friends were sharing information about me back to him, I was referred to Savera UK.

“I was really worried no one would believe me. I was worried I would get the same treatment I got from back home where the victim was to blame, but Savera UK listened, and they were there for me, they supported me.”

Fato’s powerful and dignified testimony clearly demonstrated the need for action to help survivors and those at risk of HBA and harmful practices, and led to the central question of the event: How is culture conflated with HBA and what can the law do about it?

This set the stage for keynote speaker, barrister Dexter Dias KC, who practises in international human rights, public law, and crime, and who during the last 30 years he has been involved in some of the biggest legal cases involving murder, terrorism, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Providing pro bono work on human rights throughout the world, he was also the principal author of the influential Bar Human Rights report to the Parliamentary Inquiry on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) that helped change the law to protect at-risk girls.

Dexter began by talking about his work on this report. He shared the shocking statistic that a girl somewhere in the world is cut (subjected to FGM) every 10 seconds. He also highlighted what he called a “tripartite structure” around FGM – that is organised and implemented by women, subjected on women and girls, for men.

Dexter said: “I asked, ‘What is it we as barristers doing to protect these women from FGM?’ and the answer was nothing.” 

“You Can Change Something”

In response Dexter set up a working group that compared the obligations of this government and of previous administrations and found it in breach of international duties to protect women and children. The report presented a number of recommendations and eventually – alongside the work of brilliant survivors – it helped to change the law to strengthen FGM protection orders, which have since protected 500 girls.

Dexter highlighted that not all the recommendations made in his report had been implemented. He said: “You can’t change everything, but you can change something.”

Moving on to work he had undertaken around sexual abuse in South Asian community, he spoke about the cultural blocks to reporting child sexual abuse in these communities; deference, respect, social standing, and the notion of ‘honour’ and shame.

The challenge was that people did not report such abuse due to ‘social policing’ and for fear that doing so would bring shame on or ‘dishonour’ the family or community, and that there would be repercussions for this, such as being harmed or ostracised from the community.

Dexter explained his provisional hypothesis of how this notion began. He said: “We can track it back four million years, to Central Africa where we all came from. There we developed a sense of belonging and back then if you didn’t belong, you died. It was about survival.”

Through this hypothesis, Dexter explained how this relates to people who believe in harmful practices like FGM – a fear of ostracism and being cast out. He said: “The women organising it have suffered it themselves. They want the best for their children, they won’t be on social service’ radar, but they are subject to social policing. The fact is we want to belong, and while it isn’t life or death now, it’s a social death if you do not conform.”

So, what is the answer to preventing this harm and these abuses of human rights? Dexter said: “The answer isn’t: ‘these are evil people, and we need to lock them all up’. No, what we needed to do was intervene upstream with tools like FGM protection orders.”

Rounding off his speech, of these practices and beliefs, Dexter said: “We have constructed them, and we can deconstruct them.”

HBA & Culture Panel

Following Dexter’s keynote, Dr Hannah Baumesiter, Law Lecturer at LJMU, welcomed panellists Kim Johnson, MP for Liverpool Riverside and the first Black MP for the city, who also sits on the Women & Equalities Committee, and led the committee’s inquiry into so-called ‘honour’-based abuse, and Payzee Mahmod, who raises awareness and campaigns to end harmful practices including child marriage, FGM, virginity testing and hymenoplasty.

Payzee draws on her own lived experiences as a survivor and the loss of her sister Banaz, in a so-called ‘honour’ killing. After being forced into a child marriage aged 16, Payzee lead the three-year-long campaign to change the legal age of marriage from 16 to 18, in England and Wales (Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill, 2023).

The discussion began once again with the question of culture, HBA and harmful practices and how and why they are conflated.

Kim Johnson said: “Culture is used as a way and means of burying the head in the sand, as something for people to hide behind. It was common when I was growing up in L8 for lots of girls to go off for weeks and months and everyone knew what was happening, but nothing was done.

“Police, nurses, teachers all have a responsibility to call it out, but there is a lack of understanding and training, which should be integral in public sector services.”

Payzee added: “When culture was used as a reason for what was happening to me and my sisters, it normalised it. It meant my teachers and doctors didn’t question when at 16 I told them I was pregnant and didn’t want to have this baby because I was married. But culture can never be an excuse for abuse.”

Dexter spoke of the challenges he faced in his work around FGM in Africa. He said: “People asked why are you consumed by this? What happens to women in sub-Saharan Africa has nothing to do with you. Who are you to intervene in their cultures and traditions? The answer is that it is a matter of human rights.

“When you speak to girls in sub-Saharan Africa and say, ‘you have a right to bodily integrity’ and ‘you have a right NOT to be cut’ you can see a light bulb go on. When people ask, ‘what can the law do?’ I say that we can tell people what the law is, so that they know.”

“We need to be embedded in communities”

This observation turned the discussion to education. Afrah shared how Savera UK was established after a school turned to her for advice in helping girls whose families were talking about marriage and wanted help. Afrah said: “The school believed it was talking about cultural issues and it didn’t have appropriate knowledge. They were scared to say the wrong thing or to cause offence.”

The panel agreed that this is why education is so important, not just for young people and people in general, but also to train the educators to respond appropriately to these issues. The panel also agreed that education and even challenging communities without fear was also important.

Kim said: “We need to be embedded in communities, raising awareness, and challenging things, asking ‘is this right?’. We need to address the fear of reprisals in the community.”

Discussing the challenge of social policing, Afrah agreed: “We need advocates embedded in those communities where these issues are prevalent. Some individuals want to report these issues, but fear of being found out and the consequences prevents them. They are accused of forgetting their culture and identity.

“We need to empower those individuals in those communities. If we’re going to end this, we need to educate communities. If we don’t start with the roots of the issue nothing will change.”

As the panel drew to a close, discussion turned to what has been achieved. Legislation changes such as the change in the legal age of marriage from 16 to 18 in England and Wales and the strengthening of the law through Forced Marriage and FGM protection orders we highlighted as positive steps.

Payzee also added: “Going into the Kurdish and Iranian community I have seen progress and cultural shifts, we are slowly seeing change. When I started speaking up, I had such backlash, they said I was crazy. Now they reach out to me for help. Change doesn’t always happen as fast as we want to but there are changes.”

While it was agreed that legislation was vital, it was also agreed that legislation alone could not end these issues.

Dexter said: “Lawyers overestimate how important the law is. You cannot prosecute FGM into extinction. You have to meet people where they are.”

Speaking of his work with survivor groups he highlighted that not enough people know about the legislation that exists, which is why reaching people who might not be in digital spaces or access the places where legislation is discussed or promoted. He said: ”It actually is important to have a law. So people can say ‘it isn’t just me, the law says it’”.

Data and Funding

The final point of discussion was around the challenges of data and funding, which are often interlinked. During the first years of its existence, Savera UK struggled to convince local authorities that HBA and harmful practices were an issue in Liverpool because there was no data to evidence it. With no data, securing funding was virtually impossible.

As ‘hidden’ practices and ones that statutory and voluntary frontline services are not always equipped or trained to recognise, and with statutory definition for HBA or central system for data to be recorded in, data remains a significant challenge for organisations, services and individuals working to end HBA and harmful practices.

Kim said: “The inquiry into so-called ‘honour’-based abuse highlighted data as vital and having a statutory definition of HBA is important for recording accurate data. Unfortunately, this recommendation was not taken on by the Government, along with others that were made. We need to apply more pressure for those recommendations to be taken on.”

On a final note, Afrah added: “We need these issues to be made part of the mainstream, so that everyone is aware of them. We need better funding and the issue of HBA and harmful practices needs not to be dismissed like it was dismissed in the Domestic Abuse Act.”

Culture, HBA and the Law was delivered in partnership with LJMU, who kindly provided our venue. We will be delivering more events on this topic in the new year, to stay up to date on all news from Savera UK and be the first to hear about upcoming events, please sign up to our newsletter here. 

*False name used to protect client identity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The National Lottery Community Fund has granted Savera UK £419,615 over four years to develop a training and education project that will inform thousands of people about ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices.

The project “A world without HBA & harmful practices” aims to reach, teach and engage as many people as possible across Merseyside, Cheshire and beyond about HBA and harmful practices. This includes the general public, those in professional agencies and also communities.

It aims to equip them with the information and tools needed to better recognise and respond to survivors or those at risk of HBA and harmful practices, while also improving outcomes for survivors and those at risk.

A Training and Education Manager will be recruited to lead the four-year project and a dedicated Youth and Education Officer, will engage with schools and other educational establishments to reach a wide range of young people. This intends not just to inform them about HBA and harmful practices, but to also recruit them to the Savera UK Youth programme and the Youth Advisory Board, to help them deliver campaigns and peer-to-peer education within the project.

Afrah Qassim, CEO and founder of Savera UK, said: “We are so excited to receive this funding from the National Lottery Community Fund and grateful for its support. This project has been an ambition for Savera UK for a very long time, so to finally be able to bring it to life is incredible.

“We want people to learn and understand more about HBA and harmful practices, so they are better equipped to recognise and challenge them, and to provide a better response for those at risk. This funding will give us the resource and capacity to properly meet this demand and educate people so we can move closer to a world without these issues.”

On Saturday 25th November 2023, hundreds joined Savera UK and Zonta UK in their mission to end HBA and harmful practices, as the charities launched their “No Excuse for Abuse” campaign with a march in Liverpool City Centre.

The campaign will run throughout the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence and abuse (25 Nov – 10 Dec) and will include fundraising activities, a panel event discussing Culture, HBA and the Law, and awareness sessions to introduce the public to the issues of HBA and harmful practices.

The event began with drumming from Katumba followed by speeches from Afrah Qassim from Savera UK and Dianne Jeanes from Zonta UK, highlighting the reasons behind the campaign and partnership, which is now in its fourth year. 

Before the march began, led by Afrah, Dianne, Savera UK Survivor Ambassador, Khatra Paterson and Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, Savera UK Young Ambassador Malcolm, and team member Macy, read the stories of five ‘honour’ killing victims from the UK, in line with the theme of the first day of the charity’s 16 days of activism toolkit – remembrance.

“We March for Them”

Arash Ghorbani-Zarin was a 19-year-old student at Oxford Brookes University. During his studies he fell for 20-year-old Manna Begum, they began dating and a year later she fell pregnant. Arash showed friends a scan of the unborn child and took a job in Toys ‘R’ Us in order to support Manna and the baby. However, her father has an arranged marriage planned for her. Their relationship and her pregnancy angered him. He and his two sons ambushed Arash in his car, stabbing him 46 times. The unborn child was aborted after his murder. 

After two years in an abusive forced marriage Banaz Mahmod entered a relationship with Rahmat Suleimani. They were in love but their relationship was against her family’s wishes. Banaz’s uncle devised a plan to kill them both which she overheard and reported to the police, but police didn’t respond quickly enough. Two days after Rahmat suffered an attempted kidnap, Banaz was subjected to two hours of rape and torture before being strangled to death. Ten years after her murder Rahmat tragically took his own life.

Laura Wilson, aged 16, was in a relationship with Ashtiaq Ashgar but he made her keep it a secret because he knew his family would be unhappy he was dating a white girl. When Laura found out he was seeing other girls, she had a fling with Ashgar’s friend and fell pregnant. After the birth of the baby Laura and Ashgar rekindled their relationship, but he insisted it remained a secret. After Laura told the families of both Ashgar and the father of her baby about their relationships, Ashgar lured her to a canal where he stabbed her to death.

A 16-year-old girl that attended school in Fulham, Heshu Yones began a relationship with a fellow pupil without her family’s knowledge. She lived a double life, putting make-up on after leaving the house and having friends lie about her whereabouts so she could spend time with her boyfriend. But eventually Heshu’s father received an anonymous letter that their “community” was aware she had a boyfriend. After months of physical abuse, her father killed her by stabbing her multiple times and cutting her throat, in the bathroom where she had barricaded herself.

Samia Shahid was always described as a bubbly and funny girl. Her family arranged for her to marry her cousin abroad. The marriage went ahead, but after she returned to England, she fell in love with Syed Kazim. She divorced her husband and married Syed, but her family did not approve of these actions. Despite being involved in a dispute with her family over her choices, when she was told her father was critically ill, she travelled abroad alone to see him, staying in touch with Syed throughout her trip. The day before her departure date, the constant stream of messages to her husband suddenly stopped. He was informed by her family that she had died of ‘natural causes’ however, an autopsy found she had been subjected to rape and strangulation.

The One Chance Rule

A group of more than 200 marched through Liverpool City Centre, led by Movema’s Liver Bird and Chinese Phoenix, on one of the busiest shopping days of the year, carrying banners and placards. At the marches halfway point, survivor stories were shared by Savera UK survivor ambassador Khatra Paterson, who told her story of being subjected to FGM at the age of 10, and team members Eve and Alex read stories from Savera UK’s own clients. 

After marching to Mann Island to join Merseyside PCC’s event and vigil, Savera UK team member Merfat led the group in the One Chance Rule pledge, before Savera UK Youth Advisory Board Member, Ayo, read the poem, Let Women be Free by Juliana Mohamed Noor.

To find out more about other Savera UK events taking place during the 16 Days of Activism, visit: https://www.saverauk.co.uk/current-campaigns/no-excuse-for-abuse/

Image: Andrew AB Photography

Buildings and landmarks across the Liverpool City Region and Cheshire will be illuminated bright orange on Saturday 25th November, as part of an international campaign aimed at ending gender-based violence, with the iconic St John’s Beacon joining the campaign for the first time.

The colour orange, used in the global “Orange the World” campaign, is intended to be a symbol of hope for a brighter future, free of violence or abuse, a message supported by Savera UK’s “No Excuse for Abuse” campaign.

Other city region landmarks that will illuminate orange include Liverpool Town Hall, St George’s Hall, World Museum Liverpool, Merseyside Police Headquarters, the Greystone Footbridge (Knowsley), the Mersey Gateway Bridge (Halton), Wallasey Town Hall (Wirral) and the Steve Prescott Bridge (St Helens).

A number of Cheshire landmarks will also light orange, in a campaign supported by PCC John Dwyer, Savera UK, Chester Soroptimists, Cheshire West and Chester Council and other organisations committed to addressing gender-based violence and abuse in the area. Cheshire buildings illuminating include Chester Town Hall, Eastgate Clock and Newgate in Chester, Wyvern House in Winsford, and Ellesmere Port Library.

Through its partnership with Zonta UK, the campaign will also see Defra buildings across the UK illuminate in support of the initiative.

Dianne Jeans, from Zonta UK, said: “Zonta UK is delighted to be working again with Savera UK to amplify our voices during this campaign, and commend Defra for participating in the 16 days of activism through lighting their buildings, becoming a White Ribbon organisation and promoting workplace discussion of gender-based violence and abuse.”

The illumination will take place on the same day that charities Savera UK and Zonta UK will march through Liverpool city centre from Williamson Square to call for an end to ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA), harmful practices and all forms of gender-based abuse, after Savera UK has seen an increase of almost 6% in new referrals into its service and a continuing growth in demand.

The event will start at 1:45pm with a drumming performance from Katumba and some short speeches before the march will begin, heading through town with Movema’s Sankofa and Liver Birds performing to celebrate the beauty of culture.

There will be a further stop along the route when Savera UK survivor ambassador, Khatra Paterson, will share her story, and readings from Savera UK’s own clients will also be shared.

​​Savera UK is a leading national organisation that helps survivors and those at risk of HBA and harmful practices, which include forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM) and conversion therapy. Zonta UK is part of Zonta International, a global organisation that stands for women’s rights and advocates for equality, education and an end to child marriage and gender-based violence.

Each year, the 25th of November marks the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of the United Nation’s “Orange the World” campaign and annual 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign.

Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell said: “This is such an important campaign, and I am glad to see it continue and grow year on year. It’s essential we do everything possible to increase awareness to those that may be unaware of what ‘honour-based’ abuse is or even more importantly, reach out to victims and potential victims to give them the courage to speak out and seek support.

 

“We know, there may only be one chance, to reach out and save a person from a lifetime of abuse. Marching through the city, I hope we can increase understanding through shared stories and visual impact and bring some light to those who have suffered and who may still be suffering.   

 

“I am proud to work closely with Savera UK through my Victim Care Merseyside service to provide support for anyone who has been affected, ensuring they receive the advice, care and help they need. If you or someone you know is a victim of ‘honour-based’ abuse, you can receive support from Savera UK.”  

Chief Superintendent Ngaire Waine, Head of Investigations Protecting Vulnerable People, Merseyside Police said: “We work closely with Savera UK to raise awareness of so-called ‘honour’-based abuse within the wider public, as well as reaching out to those who are more familiar with this.

“We want to empower victims to seek support whether that is through us and our dedicated team of specially trained officers, a charity or a friend or family member that you trust. There is still a level of under-reporting in relation to this crime and we must curb this trend. ‘Honour’-based violence is not a taboo subject – by raising awareness, we can encourage others to spot the signs, protect the vulnerable and help us bring offenders to justice.

“If you are a victim of this horrible crime, or know someone at risk, please speak up and we’ll help – report either directly to us @MerPolCC, by calling 101 or contact @CrimestoppersUK anonymously. You can also contact Savera UK at www.saverauk.co.uk.”

The #16Days campaign ends on Sunday 10th December, Human Rights Day, when a number of the participating landmarks are expected to light up orange once again in a show of solidarity and support. Warrington Town Hall will also illuminate Orange on 10th December.

Image by Jennifer Bruce

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer, and Savera UK are joining forces to raise awareness of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices in Cheshire, following an 82 percent increase in HBA-related offences in the county in the past year, with their “No Excuse for Abuse” campaign.

The campaign will run in line with the annual UN-led event “Orange the World” and the 16-days of activism against gender-based violence, which take place from 25th November – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls – until 10th December, International Human Rights Day.

The campaign features the launch of a toolkit designed to educate and inform people on gender-based violence and abuse and the issues of HBA and harmful practices such as forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM) and conversion therapy, which can be downloaded here; and a free, online public awareness session on Wednesday 29th November, for Cheshire residents to learn about the issues, how to recognise them and how to get help or signpost others to it.

A number of Cheshire landmarks will also illuminate orange to mark the start and end of the “Orange the World” period, in a campaign supported by PCC John Dwyer, Savera UK, Chester Soroptimists, Cheshire West and Chester Council and other organisations committed to addressing gender-based violence and abuse.

Buildings illuminating on both 25th November and 10th December include the Mersey Gateway Bridge in Halton, Chester Town Hall, Eastgate Clock and Newgate in Chester, Wyvern House in Winsford, and Ellesmere Port Library. Warrington Town Hall will illuminate Orange on 10th December.

Afrah Qassim, CEO and founder of Savera UK, said: “While the numbers of HBA-related offences in Cheshire are still low, the percentage increase over the past year is significant and an indication that greater awareness is needed.

“When we first began our work in Merseyside the numbers were also low, due to HBA and harmful practices being ‘hidden’ forms of abuse, lack of confidence in reporting such issues, and a lack of understanding of the issues amongst professionals in statutory and voluntary services, which means they were not always recognised or responded to appropriately.

“We know that HBA and other harmful practices occur in Cheshire and since starting our partnership with Cheshire PCC in March 2023, we have seen an increase in referrals from the area. We have also seen a strong appetite from professionals who want to better understand these issues and learn how to respond to them effectively, with help from specialists at Savera UK.

“We hope that this campaign, during the 16 days of activism, will allow members of the public to also learn about HBA and harmful practices, so that they too can recognise them, call them out and signpost people to help.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer, said: “HBA and harmful practices are still hidden crimes, so it’s vital that we work to find those who are at risk and help them. That’s why I partnered with Savera UK and it’s a testament to their work that we are seeing more people have the confidence to come forward.

“We’ve been working together throughout the year to raise awareness among the public and professionals, and the 16 days of activism serves as a chance to renew our commitment to tackling HBA and harmful practices in Cheshire.”

Last month, Home Office data revealed that there were 2,905 HBA-related offences recorded by the police in England and Wales*, an increase of 1% compared with the year ending March 2022 (2,871 offences). Of the 2,905 HBA offences, 84 were FGM offences and 172 were forced marriage offences.

The data also shows that there were 2,018 HBA-related incidents recorded by the police, an increase of 10% compared with the previous year (up 151 from 1,830). These cover incidents reported to the police that, following investigation, do not amount to an offence according to the National Crime Recording Standard. In the same reporting period, Savera UK has seen an increase of almost 6% in new referrals into its service.

Throughout the 16 days of activism (25th November – 10th December), Savera UK is also encouraging people to remember the 5,000 people lost each year to HBA and harmful practices, by taking on the “5K to end HBA challenge” and doing an activity of their choosing – from running or walking 5K, to completing a 5,000 piece jigsaw, to raise money and awareness for the charity and the issues it works to end.

Download the toolkit here: https://www.saverauk.co.uk/current-campaigns/orange-the-world-campaign-cheshire-2023/

Register for the free online awareness session here: https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/HBAandHarmfulPracticesAwarenessSession291123

Learn more about the 5K to End HBA Challenge here: https://www.saverauk.co.uk/take-the-5k-to-end-hba-challenge/

* (excluding Devon and Cornwall)

A Merseyside-based charity will march through Liverpool city centre from Williamson Square on Saturday 25th November to call an end to ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices, after it has seen an increase of almost 6% in new referrals into its service and a continuing growth in demand.

Savera UK is a leading national organisation that helps survivors and those at risk of HBA and harmful practices, which include forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM) conversion therapy and many more.

Last month, Home Office data revealed that there were 2,905 HBA-related offences recorded by the police in England and Wales*, an increase of 1% compared with the year ending March 2022 (2,871 offences). Of the 2,905 HBA offences, 84 were FGM offences and 172 were forced marriage offences.

The data also shows that there were 2,018 HBA-related incidents recorded by the police, an increase of 10% compared with the previous year (up 151 from 1,830). These cover incidents reported to the police that, following investigation, do not amount to an offence according to the National Crime Recording Standard.

In the same reporting period, Savera UK has seen an increase of almost 6% in new referrals into its service.

The march will take place on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women & Girls and will officially launch Savera UK’s fourth annual campaign with Zonta UK (part of Zonta International) – Culture is Beautiful: No Excuse for Abuse’ – which seeks to raise public awareness of the ‘silent’ and often misunderstood issues of HBA and harmful practices, to separate them from cultures and religions that are wrongly used to excuse or justify them, and to provide people with information and the tools to help end this abuse.

Supporters will gather at Williamson Square at 1:45pm. There will be a drumming performance from Katumba and some short speeches before the march will begin, heading through town with Movema’s Sankofa and Liver Birds performing to celebrate the beauty of culture. There will be a further stop along the route when Savera UK survivor ambassador, Khatra Paterson, will share her story, and readings from Savera UK’s own clients will also be shared.

The march will end at Mann Island, where Savera UK will share the ‘One Chance Rule’ a simple and effective tool for anyone to help those who may be at risk of HBA or harmful practices. People will then be able to join Merseyside PCC’s violence against women and girls’ event, with stalls, guest speakers and a vigil taking place in the atrium at Mann Island.

Afrah Qassim, CEO and Founder of Savera UK, said: “Every year, 5,000 people die as a result of HBA and harmful practices. While these issues are more prevalent in some communities, the issues can affect people of all ages, genders, sexualities, ethnicities and backgrounds, and the issue is present in the Liverpool City Region.

“This is a message that we want to share with the city region. HBA can affect anyone, and it is a problem that we all need to be aware of, so that we can end it together. We also want to break the myth that HBA and harmful practices are part of any culture or religion – they are not. They are human rights abuses, plain and simple.

“As well as raising awareness, our march will be a celebration of culture, which is beautiful and foundational to us all. We will not allow culture or religion to be connected to these practices or used as an excuse for abuse.”

The march is the first of a number of activities and events organised by Savera UK that will take place during the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, to highlight the issue of HBA and harmful practices. There will be free online awareness sessions on Tuesday 28th November and Saturday 9th December, which will explain what HBA and harmful practices are, how to spot them and how to get help or signpost others to help.

On Friday 8th December Savera UK will also host a discussion event at LJMU Student Life Building: “Culture ‘Honour’-Based Abuse & the Law”. Human rights barrister Dexter Dias KC, Savera UK survivor ambassador and campaigner, Payzee Mahmod, Kim Johnson MP and event chair, Dr Hannah Baumeister, will discuss culture, HBA and the legal system, what the justice system has achieved and what needs to change.

Throughout the 16 days of activism (25th November – 10th December), Savera UK is also encouraging people to remember the 5,000 people lost each year to HBA and harmful practices, by taking on the “5K to end HBA challenge” and doing an activity of their choosing – from running or walking 5K, to completing a 5,000 piece jigsaw, to raise money and awareness for the charity and the issues it works to end.

You can find details of all events on the Savera UK website here: https://www.saverauk.co.uk/current-campaigns/no-excuse-for-abuse/

* (excluding Devon and Cornwall)

Image: Savera UK’s 2022 March event (photo by Gary Lambert)