Author: nikkigirvan

LP Nails supports Savera UK

Throughout Women’s History Month, Lucy Pastorelli Nails & Training, a woman-led business providing professional equipment and training to salons and nail technicians, supported Savera UK with a campaign raising awareness of HBA and harmful practices, and raising £460.50 for the charity.

Owner Lucy Pastorelli, learned about Savera UK’s work after seeing FGM survivor and Savera UK ambassador, Khatra Paterson, sharing her story and campaigning work in Olivia Attwood’s latest documentary series, The Price of Perfection.

Inspired by Khatra’s bravery in sharing her story, and recognising that many of their customers are beauty therapists who perform intimate treatments on women, Lucy and her team saw an opportunity to help them learn about and recognise FGM and other harmful practices.

Lucy said: “After hearing Khatra’s story, I was compelled to raise awareness of FGM within our industry. Throughout March we supplied over 900 custom drawn prints into salons not only in the UK but internationally, along with promoting the campaign on our social media platforms.

“The response from our customers was encouraging, and we hope this helped to create not only awareness, but also a safe space in salon environments for survivors. We are grateful for the opportunity to play a small part in what hopefully one day will be a world without harmful practices.”

Taking the words of a poem written collectively by Savera UK clients, who are all survivors of HBA and harmful practices, and commissioning artist Stephanie Jackson to incorporate them into a design celebrating women, the LP Nail team created an insert to be sent out with every order in March. The card shared information on HBA and harmful practices, signposting to Savera UK and a link to the charity’s learning hub, where more resources could be found.

The business also generously donated a percentage of all sales made in March to Savera UK, raising a fantastic £460.50.

Afrah Qassim, Savera UK CEO and founder, said: “The campaign created by the team at Lucy Pastorelli was so thoughtful and considered. For lots of women, beauty therapists might be a confidante and their salons a safe space to go, so helping them to be aware of HBA and harmful practices, and equipping them with signposting information is fantastic.

“To also incorporate our survivors’ voices into the campaign artwork made the partnership even more special. Thank you so much Lucy, Katie and all the LP Nails team, and of course to all their customers who made a purchase in March. Every single penny raised and every single person made aware of these issues helps us to keep working collectively towards our vision for a world without our HBA and harmful practices.”

To see more about the campaign click here.

Eid Party: Celebrating Culture and Diversity

 

Earlier this month we hosted an Eid party, bringing more than 20 of our clients and their families together for a lively and welcoming celebration to mark Eid al-Fitr, a religious holiday that commemorates the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting for Muslims.

The party included traditional foods such as Jollof rice, turkey stew and a range of delicious curries, which were prepared and brought by our clients, using money provided by Savera UK. This encouraged them to get involved in creating the celebration, to build their confidence and independence, and also allow them to share their cultural food with others.

There were lots of activities for the children to enjoy, including a t-shirt design station and arts and craft table and our clients were also able to relax with hand massages and nail painting provided by the Savera UK team and supporters.

Separating Culture from Abuse

Eid is one of many holidays celebrated by Savera UK and its clients, and an important part of the charity’s work to separate the beauty of our clients’ diverse cultures and faiths from the abuse that they have been subjected to.

As survivors of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices, our clients’ faith and culture have often been used to excuse or justify their abuse and holidays like Eid can be a difficult time for many.

This was highlighted by Savera UK Survivor Ambassador, Payzee Mahmod, when she posted on X recently. She said: “Eid can be so triggering. It’s a time meant for celebration and togetherness, but for those of us who aren’t part of our families and communities, it amplifies feelings of loneliness, grief, and isolation. It’s a reminder of what’s been lost, regardless of what you have found.”

At Savera UK we work to reduce those feelings of isolation and grief and break the connection between culture and abuse, highlighting that HBA and harmful practices are not part of any culture or religion, but a violation of human rights.

Reconnecting with Culture

By celebrating the diverse religious and cultural holidays of our clients, we provide a safe space for them to celebrate and reconnect with the beauty of their culture, share it with one another and come together as part of the Savera UK family, combatting isolation and loneliness.

Speaking of the Eid party, Reihana, Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator at Savera UK, said: “It was really great to be able to provide such a wonderful event for our clients and their children, and to see everyone get together. It is so important to create a safe space that is inclusive to all that helps reduce their isolation.”

A massive thank you to Reihana and the whole Savera UK team for organising such an amazing event. We look forward to more celebrations throughout the year.

Eid Mubarak to all from the Savera UK team, board and clients!

STATEMENT ON JULIA FOX: “FGM is not a costume”

Last week, actress Julia Fox sparked criticism from campaigners working to end female genital mutilation (FGM), after she posed for photographs in Los Angeles wearing a hiked-up white dress that exposed parts of a flesh-coloured bikini showing an image of a sewn-up vagina beneath the words “closed”, which looked similar to “type 3” FGM or “infibulation” – the medical terms used to describe FGM.

It is not clear what Fox’s intention was in wearing the outfit, but for Savera UK and many other FGM campaigners have branded it “horrific” and “triggering”. 

“FGM is not a costume”

Afrah Qassim, Savera UK CEO and Founder, said: “While the intention of this outfit may not have been to imitate or mock FGM and those who have been subjected to it, it is a thoughtless action that is offensive and harmful to those who are survivors.

“Julia Fox is a woman who appears to consider herself a feminist and has spoken in support of many issues affecting women, yet she failed to consider the impact of this outfit. She has effectively ‘dressed up’ in the pain of hundreds of thousands of women and girls. FGM is not a costume and unlike Julia, those affected are not able to just take the outfit off. They live with the physical and mental scars everyday of their lives. 

“The fact that Julia wore this outfit and that the photo was published on a news website that claims to be ‘woman-focused’ is a clear indicator of the lack of awareness and education around FGM, its forms and its impact on women around the world.

“We would urge Julia, her stylists, and the journalists and editorial staff who published this content without thought, to first apologise to survivors of FGM and secondly, to educate themselves on this horrific form of abuse and use their significant platforms to work to end rather than glamourise it. Ignorance is no excuse where there are so many campaigners and organisations working tirelessly to educate and campaign to end FGM for good.”

Khatra Paterson, Savera UK ambassador and FGM survivor, added: “I’m all for women having the freedom to express themselves, however Julia Fox’s flesh-coloured bikini that appears to depict a mutilated Type 3 vulva shows lack of sensitivity and insight for woman like myself that have gone through FGM.  

“It’s triggering and sadly FGM represents the control of a woman’s body and sexuality – the extreme opposite to what it appears Julia was intending to portray. Maybe if she could see the mental and physical struggles FGM survivors go through then she would of had a little more compassion rather than sensationalising it.”

Savera UK Survivor Ambassador, Payzee Mahmod, has also spoken out about Julia’s actions, as has survivor and activist Shamsa Araweelo, who has worked with Savera UK Youth on campaigns to raise awareness of FGM.

About FGM

“Type 3” FGM is often considered to be the most extreme form of this harmful practice, which narrows the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering “seal” formed by cutting and repositioning the labia minora, or labia majora, sometimes through stitching. It may also involve the partial or total removal of the clitoris.

FGM is recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights. It reflects deep-rooted gender inequality, and constitutes an extreme form of gender discrimination. It is nearly always carried out on minors and is a violation of the rights of children. However, it can also be carried out on women, particularly in preparation for marriage or after giving birth. The practice also violates a person’s rights to health, security and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture, cruelty, inhumane or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure results in death. 

To learn more about FGM read our recent blog on FGM and Healthcare or download factsheets from the Savera UK Learning Hub 

Savera UK Backs #Push4Change

Savera UK has long advocated for a comprehensive statutory definition of ‘honour’-based abuse, seeing first-hand how the lack of clarity of the existing definition impedes progress in our mission to end HBA and harmful practices for good.

Today (Friday 8th March, 2024) we are joining peer organisations within our sector, survivors of HBA, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs and HBA Policing lead, Commander Ivan Balhatchet to #Push4Change and call on the government to introduce a statutory definition of HBA, which has already received formal recognition and support as a key recommendation from the Women and Equality Committee’s inquiry into Honour Based Abuse in July 2023, for which Savera UK provided evidence.

You can read the join letter here

Savera UK CEO and Founder, Afrah Qassim, said: “The impact of a statutory definition for HBA on our sector, survivors of HBA and those still at risk, would be significant. It would lead to better understanding, identification and reporting of HBA, facilitating more effective and appropriate responses.

“It will protect those of risk by giving professionals a robust framework to work with and it will empower survivors by recognising the severity of the issue and make it easier for them to seek help. It will also allow consistent reporting that feeds into improved data collection, which can be used to inform policy and service delivery.

“The statutory definition and framework that we call for cannot not be limited to simply female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage, and those most sensational and shocking cases of HBA.

“It must include reference to the full range of characteristics of HBA, like the core elements revealed in our baseline research that was published in 2022, as well as a full scope of harmful practices, from virginity testing and dowry abuse, to conversion ‘therapy’.

“It also needs to address the issue of the definition’s vulnerability to cultural stereotypes and the lack of understanding that it perpetuates, as this narrow lens excludes a sizeable minority of individuals at risk from atypical communities.

“Ongoing research by Savera UK and the University of Liverpool has shown that there are significant similarities between stereotypical and atypical HBA cases, which highlights the importance of defining HBA by its characteristics and not demographics, as pressures to uphold ‘honour’ can be placed on anyone regardless of demographic characteristics.

“A statutory definition of HBA is also only the start of our journey. It will allow for more informed decision-making and allocation of resources and funds, but where these are allocated is vital. Improving policy, definition and law-making is only effective if it is adequately communicated to those who need to be most aware – namely professionals and communities.

“More investment needs to be made into those organisations working on the frontline in communities to raise awareness, challenge stereotypes and break myths that allow HBA to be perpetuated. Using robust frameworks to educate and empower communities is how the fight against HBA will be won, and how we will end harmful practices for good.”

Child Marriage Ban: More Work Still to be Done

Today marks one year since the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 became law, banning child marriage. 

Reflecting on the 12 months since this momentous milestone, Savera UK CEO and founder, Afrah Qassim, said: “While this is an achievement to be celebrated, and a tool at our disposal to help us protect children from harm and abuse, it is also important to recognise that there is still much work to be done.

“We support IKWRO’s urgent calls for legislative changes in Scotland and Northern Ireland, because a marriage where parental consent is required is open to abuse and is not truly consensual. Until these laws are changed, children will remain at risk.

“We must also look at the wider issue of forced marriage. Forced marriage is inextricable from the issue of child marriage, but you don’t have to be a child to be forced into a marriage. 

“Cases of forced marriage affecting people of all ages are still under-reported, due to people being reluctant to approach authorities, survivors not realising that they are in a forced marriage, and a limited understanding of the issue amongst professionals and statutory and voluntary services.

“Greater training for professionals, mandatory education on the issue in schools, and more funding to support survivors is vital if we are to continue our work and achieve our collective aim of ending forced and child marriage.

“We will continue to work to end all harmful practices, to safeguard and advocate for those at risk, campaign for change and spread awareness among communities.”

Long Read: FGM & Health Professionals: Responsibilities, Challenges and Improving Patient Care

Interaction with frontline healthcare professionals is sometimes the very first-time survivors of female genital mutilation (FGM) become aware of the practice and that they have been subjected to it, due to lack of understanding around the practice or the type of FGM they have had.

For those who are aware they have been through FGM, it is not only vital that healthcare professionals have knowledge of the practice and its health impacts, they also need to have the confidence and willingness to talk openly about it with patients.

However, many health professionals say they lack the confidence to do this.

On Tuesday 6th February, 2024, to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, Savera UK and Oxford Against Cutting, brought together FGM survivors Babs Ceesay and Khatra Paterson, and a group of healthcare professionals for an online discussion about the responsibilities of healthcare professionals in responding to FGM, the challenges they face and how specialist organisations and health professionals can collaborate to  equip health professionals to know how to respond appropriately and help survivors.

Event chair, Aislinn O’Dwyer, Chair of Savera UK’s Board of Directors and East Cheshire NHS Trust, opened the event, which was attended by almost 200 health professionals, with an interactive question: “What one word comes to mind when you think of FGM?”

The resulting word cloud saw words such as ‘pain’, ‘trauma’, ‘barbaric’ and ‘abuse’ as most prominent. In an overview of the practice of FGM and an introduction to the work Savera UK does to help end it, charity CEO and founder, Afrah Qassim touched on some of these themes and highlighted shocking key statistics around FGM: 200 million women and girls have been subjected to the practice globally, with approximately 137,000 women in England and Wales living with its consequences.

Afrah said: “It’s important to know the scale of the issue and to understand that these are just estimates, we don’t know the real figures. These are huge numbers, and it could actually be more. There are so many health implications [of FGM] which is why we need our health professionals to understand their responsibilities and be really equipped to help those at risk or who have already experienced FGM.”

Afrah went on to give an overview of what FGM is and its health implications, as well as its function as a “self-enforcing social convention” in some communities. Despite some connecting the practice with particular cultures or religions, Afrah highlighted that FGM is no part of any culture or religion, but rather a form of abuse and illegal in the UK.

She said: “Sadly many families and individuals believe that if they don’t respect those perceived social conventions, they will suffer social consequences. This is why we need more community engagement, more education and encourage more education to break those beliefs.”

Before introducing FGM survivors Babs Ceesay and Khatra Paterson, Aislinn posed a second question to the audience of health professionals, asking: “In your work/role are you confident to ask patients a question or start the conversation about FGM?”

The poll revealed that while 14 per cent said they were very confident, 53 per cent said they were only fairly confident – with ‘fairly confident’ being a broad measure open to different interpretations – and 33 per cent stated they were not confident at all.

Aislinn said: “This supports our reason for using this event to start that educational process, take the not confident at all to the fairly confident, and at least know where to get help, and the fairly confident to build skills to be able to have an open and honest discussion in a way that both you and the individuals [in your care] are happy with.”

 

FGM survivor perspective: “It is out of love”

 

Reflecting on those confidence levels, Babs Ceesay, a community nurse, FGM survivor ambassador for Savera UK and an Anti-FGM Facilitator for Oxford Against Cutting, introduced her perspective as an FGM survivor. 

Babs said: “Whenever you mention FGM you have that silence in the room for a minute, because people are not confident about asking the questions, or even if they are confident about starting it, they don’t know how to go about it without being judgemental. When I talk about FGM people are like ‘oh that’s cruel, ‘oh that’s bad’ and ‘who would do that to their daughter?’”

Referring to the history of FGM in the UK, she highlighted that a long time before the practice became illegal in the UK in 1985, back in the 1860s, it was undertaken by medical professionals, including Dr Issac Baker Brown, who believed that cutting women resolved certain mental health issues. They believed that this practice was helping women. As knowledge developed, though, it was realised that the procedure was in fact seriously harming women and was subsequently banned – something that has unfortunately not happened in all parts of the world.

Drawing parallels between these 19th century medical professionals, and parents and communities from non-medical backgrounds who continue to believe in the practice, Babs said: “Think about why our parents would do this. It is out of love. It’s not out of hatred or because they didn’t like us. From the culture that I came from, if you don’t go through FGM you cannot fit in in the society, you cannot get married, you cannot do any misstep without being insulted – no parent wants that for their child. So, you need to understand that perspective.

“As a survivor, we don’t need that judgement, we need help. Even if you say, ‘ok I want to help’ but your expression or the words you say are showing me that you are judging me; that you are judging my parents, then I won’t want to listen to you.”

Babs highlighted specifically the harm and upset caused by the raising of safeguarding issues by a midwife at her first appointment pregnancy. The implication being that if she had a girl, that girl would be at risk because Babs had been cut herself.

Babs said: “This was said to me, and it hurts me to think about it. I don’t want anybody to think that I would put my children in the same position that I was in, [to experience] the same issues that I am still suffering from.

“I always tell people who are thinking along these lines, you shouldn’t assume that everyone who has been through FGM knows about FGM.

“The first time that they might know about it is when they go for their cervical screening or when they are pregnant. Either way, it is when they access healthcare. Some will know [about the FGM] from childhood but won’t know about how FGM affects them.

“With that being the case. If someone comes and you notice that this person has been through FGM, and you didn’t say anything to them, you just do your part and let them go, they won’t know what’s in the future for them, they won’t know what to expect. I didn’t know what to expect during childbirth and it was horrible at the end.

“If I’d had that education from the beginning, if someone had said to me ‘oh you’ve been through FGM. What do you know about FGM?’ It’s a simple question that you can ask a survivor – ‘what do you know about FGM?’ Listen to them, allow them to tell you what they know about FGM, and you’d be surprised.

“About 85 – 90 per cent of survivors don’t know anything because in their society they are told that’s the norm – the pain, the suffering, all the problems that come with FGM, they are told that its part of life. It’s not. As healthcare professionals, we need to have these questions in us. We need to think about the perspective of the survivor.”

Babs explained how – as a survivor whose records show she has had FGM – knowing that her healthcare professional knew about FGM, was willing to open the discussion and acknowledge that having something as simple as a cervical smear could be traumatic, would give her reassurance and help her to relax.

She said: “This would help so many people be able to access important healthcare.”

 

FGM: Not Cultural or Tradition

 

Fellow FGM survivor, Khatra Paterson, a business owner with a passion for women’s health and wellbeing, and 32 years’ experience as a nurse, midwife and health visitor, shared how her mum also practiced FGM out of love and a wish to secure her future.

Khatra said: “If my mum had her opportunity again now, today, she would not go through with what she did to me and my sisters. And why is that? That is because of education. I have educated her in the misconceptions and beliefs that go alongside why FGM should be perpetuated.

“Culture is beautiful. I am a British Somali girl, but FGM is not cultural or tradition. It is child abuse and that is how we need to think of it. I noticed in the first word cloud FGM brought the word ‘cultural’ to mind and we need to get away from that.

“I have two boys and when I was with my first child, I was a midwife, and during my booking process all the way through to delivery, no-one had asked me if I had gone through FGM, and it was evident that I had gone through FGM

“I think it’s really important, very early on – particularly at the booking process – that we identify women who have gone thorough FGM, and we shouldn’t look at a particular ethnic group, we should be asking everyone as a matter of course.”

Speaking about the process of change in health services, Khatra recalled her discomfort early in her career when professionals started being required to ask patients about domestic violence and mental health issues.

She said: “Now it’s the norm, and it becomes the norm because we repeat it, it becomes our repertoire, it’s part of our assessment, it’s down on our booking form. FGM equally needs to be in the booking system and on our screening criteria as well.”

Khatra reflected on the results of the poll around confidence addressing FGM in the workplace and posed the question “why are we not feeling so confident about screening women and talking about FGM?”

Potential issues suggested were issues with training, lack of identification of referral pathways or protocols within organisations, inadequate risk assessment tools, an absence of a dedicated FGM lead or multidisciplinary team specifically for FGM, all of which could improve knowledge and confidence of they were in place and prioritised.

Echoing Babs sentiment on the needs of survivors, Khatra said: “We don’t need to be judged, we need to be treated with kindness and sensitivity. Some of these ladies will think it is normal to be this way, so you are going to be unearthing a lot of psychological trauma.”

 

Resources for Professionals

 

After Babs and Khatra’s inspirational contributions to the discussion, Aislinn invited Bryony Kendall, Named GP for safeguarding for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, and the North West representative to the NHS England National Network of Named GPs, and Dr Sharon Dixon GP Partner, researcher, and Trustee of Oxford Against Cutting, to share both their experiences of managing FGM in a GP setting, and the work that they had undertaken to develop resources for professionals.

Sharon started their presentation by recommending Hibo Wadere’s book, Cut. She referenced an impactful part of Hibo’s story when she first goes to a GP and has a positive experience.

Sharon said: “We – rightly – in health, often reflect on things where we can learn from what didn’t go as well, or that could have been done better. But sometimes it’s nice to learn from things that have been done well.

“She [Hibo] has said for our module for GPs that professionals need to hold their knowledge in one hand and your humanity and compassion in the other, and I find that comforting when we are trying to navigate these quite complicated questions.”

Sharon’s work developed from recent policy changes in FGM. In partnership with advocacy organisations, they have undertaken public and patient involvement work towards setting priorities in research and service development.

In this project, they heard many things including messages that FGM was part of lives, that there was a need for it to be embedded in a positive representation of culture, and that it was only one part of people and did not define them.

The work also highlighted uncertainties about what safe spaces in healthcare looked like, and how they should be maintained, or how you could create trust and safety. Common to the threads of discussion earlier in the event, those involved had also talked about breaking stereotypes and not making assumptions.

Sharon said: “The overarching conclusion was that resources, solutions and change needed to develop from communities upwards to professionals and authority.”

 

Taking a life course approach to FGM

 

The resource for general practice developed by Bryony and Sharon takes a life course approach, considering the potential health needs in different parts of peoples’ lives and how they could be better supported. This not only included areas where resources and services are often focussed, such as antenatal and postnatal care, but also other areas that may be less considered, such as how FGM might affect a child, what it might be like for a teenager starting their period and if that might be triggering, preparation for sex and intimacy and accessing contraception and managing the menopause with FGM, when there is thinning of the genital skin that can aggravate pain and also urine infections.

Speaking of acknowledging the impact of FGM at various life stages, Sharon said: “We often don’t ask because they’re not pregnant, or we’re not seeing them in that way and we’re developing a cohort of people who we’ve been able to support by just thinking about it in that time period.

“There are also some needs that maybe arc across the life course, and you want to be keeping the door open and thinking about how you can be making sure you know local resources and creating opportunities to ask about support, across all life stages. That includes psychological support, psychosexual support to address potential psychosexual and relationship impacts.

“But FGM is many things to many people, everyone’s experience is unique. So, open conversations in exploratory ways, but not making assumptions about the person in front of you.”

Sharon went on to share their Talking about FGM resource, which derived from a series of conversations with community members, advocates and survivors about what they wanted GPs and their practices, as well as other health professionals, to know.

The top thing that they wanted health professionals to know was that they are survivors and not criminals, which reflected Babs’ earlier comments on assumptions that just because she has been cut, does not mean that she would do the same to her child.

They asked professionals to think about where they are having conversations, who else is in the room, and planning and giving due warning in a trauma-informed way, so that they have choice, control and autonomy about how these conversations happen. They also provided advice on approaching physical examinations, including smears, while finally highlighting the importance of the professional responsibility to be knowledgeable, prepared and ready to support.

 

Talking about FGM

 

Speaking of development of the Talking About FGM resource, Bryony said: “This was an amazing piece of work, co-produced from the beginning and with a great mix of lived and learned experience, and we really tried to frame it in a positive way. Rather than saying ‘don’t do this’, saying ‘do this’.”

She then introduced another co-produced resources, the ‘easy read document’, which was developed in response to a lack of easy to read resources on FGM and a sort video on smear guidance from the NHS Futures website.

Finally, Bryony shared the FGM Learning Resource for GPs that she and Sharon co-produced, which among other resources features powerful audio of Hibo reading from her book.

Of the resource, Bryony said: “It is very constructively educational about how to do this, what would you do as a GP thinking about the life course, being aware that you have difficult conversations all the time and these are transferable skills, and if you feel uncomfortable do some reflections and learning to see how you can make it a better experience for the next patient, next time.”

Nicola Biggar, Head of Midwifery, Women’s and Children’s Services for East Cheshire NHS Trust, rounded off the event by turning to look at where health professionals can go from here and what adjustments they can make to their practice.

Nicola said: “For me it’s the next steps – what do we need to do to make a difference now? It’s equipping yourself with information, knowing what kind of conversation we need to be having, so using the information Sharon and Bryony have just provided us with. It’s not rocket science; it’s just having a fresh pair of eyes and reflecting on our own practice and how we can make those changes.

“Not panicking ‘this is a safeguarding’ issue and listening intently, understand, instil confidence, ask how that woman feels, what does she need? And take it from there, don’t panic and be present in that moment.

“It’s knowing that you have that built-up rapport, that they can trust somebody, that they can escalate concerns, they have that confidence in you. It’s about going and checking your practices and policies and pathways, what have you got in place? Is it fit for purpose? Even the referral process with Savera UK, it’s now checking to make sure what we can all do to give that real wrap-around support for those women.”

Nicola’s forward-looking conclusion brought the event to its final interactive element, where attendees were asked to submit a word or few words to summarise the one thing that they would take from the session and make it part of their work.

The words “compassion” and “humanity” were among the most popular responses, along with “confidence”, “don’t make assumptions” and various phases indicating the importance of knowing what resources were available, where help was available and better signposting. The phrase “born of love” also made several appearances, highlighting the impact that the perspective of FGM survivors Khatra and Babs had on the audience.

 

New perspectives on FGM

 

Speaking after the event, Savera UK CEO and founder, Afrah, said: “This event was incredibly powerful and enlightening. From just one session, almost 200 professionals have taken away new perspectives on FGM and a wealth of resources that that will help to inform and improve their practice. There is a clear need for more work and greater support in this area and we look forward to working with our panel, partners and attendees collaboratively through future events and campaigns.”

Savera UK and Oxford Against Cutting will be continuing their work in the field of educating, training and equipping healthcare professionals to respond appropriately and effectively to cases of FGM, with future sessions planned.

 

To find out about these events first, sign up to the Savera UK’s newsletter here and the Oxford Against Cutting newsletter here. You can also find more resources about FGM, HBA and harmful practices on the Savera UK Learning Hub, and Oxford Against Cutting website. Information on Savera’s training is here and Oxford Against Cutting’s workshops can be found here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ambreen Fatima Sheikh: Silenced by family “unsatisfied” by her housework

On Wednesday 14th February 2024 a man and his family were jailed at Leeds Crown Court after his wife, Ambreen Fatima Sheikh, 39, was ‘forced or tricked’ into taking anti-diabetes medication and doused in a corrosive substance leaving her in a vegetative state from which she has no prospect of recovery.

Ambreen was brought to the UK from Pakistan in 2014, at the age of 29, after her marriage to Asgar Sheikh which took place in her home country. 

After arriving at the Sheikh family’s Huddersfield home, the court was told that Ambreen did not leave the house often, and almost never unsupervised. She did not speak much English, have an independent income, or friends or family who lived in the UK.

The court also heard that the family was unsatisfied with her work in the house, and Khalid Sheikh had suggested she should be sent back to Pakistan.

Concerns were raised about her wellbeing in July 2015 when extended family members visited and were told Ambreen was not in or was not able to see them. They reported their concerns to police and a welfare check was carried out. 

Police concluded at the time that: “Ambreen appeared to be well.”

However, the judge said in court: “She spoke little English and no real conversation took place and her father-in-law was outside the door. I find she wouldn’t have been able to express any concerns she had.”

Savera UK CEO and founder, Afrah Qassim, said: “We recognise this case as one that is clearly underpinned by ‘honour’ and a vibrant young woman not meeting the expected ‘norms’ of her husband and in-laws.

“I have read media reports saying that Ambreen’s ‘fate was sealed’ when she was ‘promised’ to the Sheikh family. However, I do not believe that Ambreen’s fate was sealed by her marriage. Her story was completely avoidable. 

“Her life has been snatched away not just by the abuse from her husband and in-laws, but also through opportunities missed by police to help her. 

“When concerns were raised, their welfare check took place in the Sheikh family home, with her father-in-law outside. She spoke little English. How could she possibly be able to express her worries and concerns safely?

“This case – like that of Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem – continues to highlight a shocking lack of knowledge amongst police forces about the issue of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA), recognising it and responding appropriately.

“There is often only one chance to help someone at risk of HBA, which is why we always advocate for the One Chance Rule. In Ambreen’s case this chance was tragically missed.

“In cases such as Ambreen’s, police and professionals should ensure that independent interpreters are present, and that the check takes place outside the family home and away from other family and community members, and everything possible should be done to keep the individual safe.

“Remembering the simple rules laid out in the One Chance Rule can save lives and protect people from harm. How many more people like Raneem, Khaola and Ambreen do we need to see let down by the systems that should protect them, before the issue of HBA and harmful practices is given the attention and resources that it desperately needs?”

Khalid, Asgar, Shagufa and Shabnam Sheikh were found guilty of causing or allowing a vulnerable adult to suffer serious physical harm, a sentence which carried a maximum tariff of 10 years, but has since been increased to 14 years.

Shagufa, Shabnam and Asgar Sheikh were also found guilty of an act intending to pervert the course of justice. All five defendants were found guilt of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Her husband Asgar Sheikh, 31, and his parents Khalid Sheikh, 55, and Shabnam Sheikh, 53, were jailed for seven years and nine months. Asgar Sheikh’s brother, Sakalayne Sheikh, 25, was given a six-month sentence, suspended for two years, and his sister, Shagufa Sheikh, 29, was given an 18-month sentence, also suspended for two years.

Afrah continued: “While we are pleased that Ambreen’s abusers have been brought to justice, seven years is not sufficient for what she suffered. In Pakistan she was a teacher and in good health. She was described by those who knew her as ‘intelligent, bright and ambitious and someone who would light up the room’ – she should now be living a full, safe and happy life.

“After being poisoned, doctors expected Ambreen to die, but she started breathing on her own. She was a woman with dreams and ambitions that she should be fulfilling today, someone who wanted to live, instead of lying unconscious. Our thoughts are with Ambreen and those who love her and hope that the sentencing brings some peace.”

Image credit: West Yorkshire Police

Practitioners need more “time, resources and training” to address HBA

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.

Savera UK Founder and CEO, Afrah Qassim

A Festive Message from our CEO & Founder

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