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.”