Tag: HBA

Afrah Qassim, CEO and Founder of Savera UK and Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer

Cheshire PCC and Savera UK launch partnership

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer has joined forces with Savera UK to support its work in providing life-saving services for those at risk of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and culturally specific abuse in Cheshire.

Through funding provided by the Commissioner, the charity has been able to employ a HBA and Harmful Practices Specialist Worker to join Savera UK 1-1 service team to provide direct intervention to survivors and those at risk or under threat of ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer, said: “I am delighted to be working with Savera UK, the direct intervention, safeguarding and advocacy that they provide to communities across Cheshire is vital. ‘Honour’-based abuse is often under-reported and can

Afrah Qassim, CEO and Founder of Savera UK and Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer
Afrah Qassim, CEO and Founder of Savera UK and CEO of Cheshire PCC Office, Damon Taylor

be referred to as a ‘hidden-crime’ because of this. By having Savera UK’s provision in our county, it may just give people the confidence they need to come forward and report their experiences.

“Protecting vulnerable and at-risk people is a priority in my Police and Crime Plan, and those at risk of ‘honour’-based abuse can be some of the most vulnerable in our society. I am looking forward to working alongside Savera UK to ensure survivors get the safeguarding and support that they need in order to rebuild their lives.”

As well as the direct intervention, safeguarding and advocacy that Savera UK provides to  survivors we will also be providing them with emotional support, an empowerment programme and assistance in gaining economic independence.

Savera UK also aims to tackle the causes of ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices by speaking out to challenge harmful attitudes, contributing to research and delivering training to raise awareness among professionals and in the wider community.

CEO and Founder of Savera UK, Afrah Qassim, said: “Partnerships are vital in our mission to eradicate ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices and we are proud to be working with the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner to tackle these issues in the county.

“Guiding and supporting people working on the frontline to better understand harmful practices, speak out against them, and provide appropriate help to survivors and those at risk enables us to reach more people who otherwise may not have found the confidence to seek help.

“Meeting the team to formally launch our partnership was a wonderful experience and its commitment to tackling these issues shone through. We look forward to working with Cheshire PCC in our united aims and making it clear that there is no excuse for abuse regardless of people’s beliefs.”

There are many signs of ‘honour’-based abuse and other harmful practices, indicators can include:

  • House arrest- being kept home with no choice of freedom or movement
  • Threats to kill- those who believe in HBA would like their loved one in the name of ‘honour’, so threats must be taken seriously
  • Being accompanied at all times by a family member- they may even speak on their behalf
  • Becoming withdrawn or displaying a change in behaviour
  • Family disputes
  • Presenting a fear of being taken abroad

John Dwyer added: “I want to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who is experiencing or witnessing ‘honour’-based abuse to speak out. Speaking out isn’t easy but it takes us step closer to eradicating harmful practices within our communities. Savera UK is there to help and support you, but I would like to remind the public that 999 should always be the first contact if there is an immediate risk.”

The Savera UK helpline is open weekdays 10am-4pm on 0800 107 0726, there are also online referral forms for individuals and professionals available in the “Get Help” section of the website.

Text reading 'statement'

Savera UK statement on police failings surrounding deaths of Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem

On 27th August 2018, Raneem Oudeh and her mother, Khaola Saleem, were both stabbed to death outside Khaola’s home by Raneem’s second husband, Janbaz Tarin.

Raneem had tried to leave Tarin on more than one occasion, with police and social services being called to their house due to reports of violence. On the day of the murders, Raneem had called police four times. An inquest into the deaths of Raneem and Khaola found failings by West Midlands Police ‘materially contributed’ to the murders of the mother and daughter.

Speaking to Sky News following the inquest, Nour Norris, sister of Khaola and aunt of Raneem, said: “We do blame the police because the proof of the inquest has shown very clear that the system is failing miserably. The death of my sister and my niece could have been prevented.”

Tarin was jailed for life with a minimum of 32 years in 2018 for the murders.

Savera UK CEO and Founder, Afrah Qassim said: “Today, we stand with the family of Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem and call for accountability for systemic failings in dealing with the abuse Raneem was subjected to by Tarin, which ultimately led to the death of her and her mother, who died trying to protect her daughter.

“We believe that a key factor in this horrific and heartbreaking case is a failure to recognise and respond appropriately to what we identify as a case of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA).

“On their wedding day, Tarin told Raneem ‘We don’t have divorce in our culture. The day that you will be free from me is the day I will kill you’ – in HBA culture and religion is weaponised in this way to control an individual. It is used as an excuse for abuse, violence and – in this instance – murder.

“HBA cannot be addressed in the same way as domestic abuse. When a disclosure is made there might only be one chance to save that life, which is why we advocate for the One Chance Rule.

“As with cases like that of Banaz Mahmod, Raneem sought help, but was led down by failings in the system, including a lack of ability to identify HBA and understand the urgency required to respond to it. How many more times will these mistakes be made and how many more lives need to be lost?

“We call for urgent action to address the issue of HBA and harmful practices in the UK, with mandatory training and education for all voluntary and statutory services working with people who may be at risk and greater funding and support for specialist services can help create preventative strategies, deliver training and education for professionals and support survivors and those at risk.

“Raneem was a loved and ambitious young woman who was simply exercising her right to live her life freely and in safety. Khaola was a beloved family member, friend and protective mother. Both should still be with us today. We will remember them as we continue to fight to end HBA and harmful practices and make it clear that culture is no excuse for abuse, violence or murder.”

Following the inquest West Midlands Police apologised to the family and said more should have been done by the force to join-up the incidents of abuse that were being reported. They say a number of key changes have already been made following the murders in 2018, including “increasing the number of staff specifically investigating domestic abuse offences”. You can read the statement in full here.

Savera UK responds to latest Home Office data on ‘honour’-based abuse offences

The Home Office today released the latest data on ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) offences in England and Wales for 2021 – 2022. In the year ending March 2022, there were 2,887 HBA-related offences recorded by the police in England and Wales, an increase of 6 per cent compared with the year ending March 2021 (when there were 2,725 offences).

This marks a second consecutive rise in HBA related offences and of the 2,887 HBA offences recorded, 77 were cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) and 141 were forced marriage offences.

Speaking of the latest data, Savera UK CEO and Founder, Afrah Qassim, said: “Although the 6 per cent increase in HBA related offences is less than last year’s 18 per cent rise, it is still concerning. Not only is any increase in offences that constitute an abuse of human rights unacceptable, we also believe that these figures still only reveal the tip of the iceberg.

“The true prevalence of HBA and harmful practices in the UK are unknown due to the limited data recorded, which makes it very difficult to understand the scale of the problem. While the data from the Home Office is useful, there is still no central database that specialist organisations tackling HBA and harmful practices – like Savera UK – can contribute to, so we know there are gaps in the data.

“Greater awareness of the issues, the ability for police and professionals to identify and deal with them appropriately and greater confidence amongst individuals to reach out for help are all positive developments, but if we don’t have a true understanding of the scale of the problem, how can we know the impact and what more needs to be done?

“The mandatory reporting system introduced by the Home Office in 2019 by its own definition provides information that is defined as ‘experimental’ because of gaps in the data and other compounding factors. For example, although the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 was in many ways a triumph, strengthening legislation around controlling or coercive behaviour, it does not include ‘honour’ crimes as part of the legislation, meaning that perpetrators can only be prosecuted for the specific crimes committed, such as coercive control, harassment, and stalking. This means that the voices of those at risk of HBA may go unheard by law enforcement and unrecorded in Home Office data.

“We were interested to see that 17 per cent of HBA-related offences were for controlling and coercive behaviour, mirroring our findings in research undertaken in partnership with the University of Liverpool, which showed that Emotional/psychological abuse and coercive control was the most common characteristic of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices among our clients. Having more robust baseline data like this will help specialist organisations like us and frontline workers like police officers and social workers to more easily identify and support survivors and those at risk, develop specialist HBA risk assessment tools, improve prevention strategies and inform where further research is urgently needed to help tackle these issues.

“Over the same time period as these latest Home Office figures (to year ending March 2022) Savera UK received 136 new referrals concerned with HBA, in effect almost 5% of the national recorded total. That is not to say that Merseyside and the North West have a higher prevalence of HBA-related offences, rather it reflects the work that has been done historically in the region around HBA, the establishment of clear safeguarding and referral processes involving police, healthcare and other professionals and voluntary sector organisations and this in part is due to our role as a respected and effective specialist in ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices.

“Year-on-year we are continuing to see an increase in referrals from professionals and individuals and the demand for our service continues to grow. Yet specific focus and funding to support survivors and those at risk, and to tackle the specific issues of HBA and harmful practices is woefully lacking.”

Savera UK Celebrity Ambassador Sunetra Sarker on ITV's The Chase

Savera UK Ambassador Sunetra Sarker donates thousands on ITV’s The Chase

Savera UK Celebrity Ambassador Sunetra Sarker on ITV's The Chase
Savera UK Celebrity Ambassador Sunetra Sarker on ITV’s The Chase

Savera UK’s celebrity ambassador Sunetra Sarker is donating thousands to the charity after winning big on ITV’s The Chase.

Sunetra, known for her roles in BBC One’s Casualty and Channel 4’s Ackley Bridge, appeared on the celebrity edition of the popular quiz show on Sunday, 28th August.

She was joined by contestants Matty Lee, David Arnold and Basil Brush, and took back £5,000 in the cash builder round before facing chaser Darragh Ennis. The team together beat the chaser, winning £19,000 to be split between their chosen charities; Savera UK, CARE International UK, MIND Charity and Marie Curie UK.

The Liverpool-born actress became an ambassador for Savera UK in January 2020 having learnt more about harmful practices while filming an episode of Casualty focusing on the topic of female genital mutilation (FGM). She has supported the charity’s Speak Out Campaign and helped raise awareness of ‘honour’-based abuse other harmful practices, including forced marriage.

Sunetra said: “Savera UK is such an important organisation doing vital work to support people affected by ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices like forced marriage and female genital mutilation, and to educate people about these practices and how they are an abuse of human rights.

“I am proud to have represented the charity on ITV’s The Chase and incredibly happy to have raised £4,750 to support them in their mission to end HBA and harmful practices for good.”

Savera UK Founder and CEO, Afrah Qassim, said: “We’re immensely thankful to our ambassador, Sunetra Sarker, for donating her winnings from The Chase to Savera UK.  This money is going to make a real difference.”

“This money will help Savera UK continue its charitable work supporting survivors in rebuilding their lives with emotional and practical support, helping them to gain economic independence and move forward into their future with confidence while we also campaign to end these horrific practices.”

If you are at risk of ‘honour’-based abuse or harmful practices, or would like some advice for someone else, you can call our confidential helpline on 0800 107 0726 (operates weekdays 10am – 4pm).

Get Involved: Setting the Story Straight – HBA and Media

Working with survivors of and individuals/communities affected by ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices, Savera UK often encounters a lack of understanding or the perpetuation of unhelpful myths and stereotypes that means harmful cultural traditions such as HBA, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage remain hidden or misunderstood.

We also frequently see these myths and stereotypes reflected in the media. Media – whether television, radio, print or digital – has the power to shape opinions and ideas. It can influence our opinions on issues, the way we see different communities and how we see ourselves.

If accurate awareness around harmful practices is to be raised and they are to be challenged, representation is vital as it can break down barriers, dispel myths, create role models and even inspire.

Savera UK is currently working on a project, supported by Lloyds Bank Foundation, to explore representation of harmful practices such as HBA, FGM and forced marriage in the UK media, and how journalists interact with survivors, affected communities and the professionals that work with them.

Through a set of surveys and an online event, we aim to create a set of media guidelines, ​informed by the experiences of survivors, ​to help journalists work better with professionals and survivors, to end the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and improve representation.

We are currently seeking the thoughts, experiences and opinions of survivors, members of affected communities and professionals who work in this space, to help inform these guidelines. To participate, please click the relevant link below:

For survivors or members of affected communities: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SUK_Survey_Survivors

For professionals: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SUK_Survey_Professionals

The deadline to respond is by 5pm on Monday 23rd May.

If you would also like to register interest in attending our free webinar: Setting the Story Straight: Challenging and informing media representation of ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices – click here.

Savera UK Clients Celebrate International Women’s Day 2022

In March, Savera UK marked International Women’s Day by holding a celebratory lunch for our amazing clients, who continually overcome hurdles in the face of adversity and are testament themselves of how we can #BreakTheBias caused by gender inequality.

Savera UK clients include both those at risk of, and survivors of, ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA), forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM) and other harmful practices. These practices are violations of human rights and are borne from deep-seated patriarchal ideologies which oppress women.

While Savera UK supports people of all genders, the majority of our clients are women, which is why it’s important for us to celebrate International Women’s Day and the strides that continue to be made to eliminate harmful practices and gender-based abuse.

To celebrate the day, Savera UK brought together the women we support for a Middle Eastern banquet where we celebrated their strengths, while looking towards a brighter future for all women.

Savera UK clients enjoyed a delicious feast at the International Women’s Day celebration

Speaking about  the lunch, one Savera UK client said: “I enjoyed that I was able to meet together with other women who are from diverse backgrounds and to watch how they felt happy with the gathering.” She also added: “I felt honoured for being valued on that day.”

Savera UK support worker Emma said: “It is important to remember how fantastic women are and to celebrate our strengths on a day like International Women’s Day.

“It counters the narrative that many of our clients have been led to believe within their communities, which can hold misogynistic and harmful attitudes towards women. It is great to help them build their confidence and see their strengths that have often been overlooked or even shamed.”

Describing the atmosphere at the lunch, Emma said: “it felt like a celebration, it was lovely, united and positive” adding that it was “very rewarding to be able to offer some normality” and “made all the preparation worth it”.

Unfortunately social work student Taylor, who helped organise the event was unable to attend, but we would like to thank her for her work in bringing together the event.

Student Spotlight: Taylor and Jackie, Social Work Students

Savera UK regularly welcomes student placements so they can learn about what we do, how our team operates and the work involved in advocating for those at risk of ‘honour’-based abuse and other harmful practices.

This year we welcomed Taylor and Jackie to the team, who both began social work placements. Taylor is already half-way through her placement while Jackie has only recently joined. We’re delighted to have you both on board and wish you the best of luck with your placements.

Taylor and Jackie share with us the reasons behind choosing to study social work (and children’s nursing, in Taylor’s case) and tell us a little bit about themselves.

Tell us about yourself!

Jackie: I’m originally from a small village in between Sheffield and Chesterfield (it’s a lot easier to say from near Sheffield though!). As well as studying my Masters, I also work in Domiciliary Care and love it! I enjoy the football too and work at Anfield and Goodison on match days as well as going to watch it.

I love animals and my favourite animals are pandas. I have a big collection of them and it seems to be getting bigger by the week. I’m very outdoorsy and love going to new places and travelling. I have a passion for doing charity work and raising money for different charities and organisations. Before the pandemic, I did a sponsored skydive for Western Park Cancer Charity and raised over £1,000. I’m hoping to be able to join more charities like this now Covid has settled down and jump out of my comfort zone some more.

Taylor: I’m a 23-year-old student, I love music. I love going to music concerts and being in that atmosphere. I have a big family so I enjoy doing activities with them such as bowling, the cinema and fun days out.

Why did you choose to study your course?

Jackie: I never knew what to do and what I wanted to study to be honest. I studied Drama and Special Educational Needs for my undergraduate degree which stemmed from studying Drama, English Literature and Philosophy and Ethics at A-Level where I wanted to be a Dramatherapist.

However, looking after my dad when he became terminally ill had a big influence on what I wanted to do. After reading up on social work and having the chance to be an influencing factor in making a change in people’s lives, I knew that was the thing I felt was missing in deciding what I wanted to do which is why I chose to study my course.

Taylor: I did hairdressing after I left school. After two years I decided I wanted to do something different, so I decided I wanted to be a Nurse. I was accepted on a course which allowed me to explore both professions of a nurse and a social worker. With this [Savera UK] being my first social work placement, I have really enjoyed seeing the role of a Social worker in action. My course will allow me to gain a career where I am able to work as an integrated professional and help individuals holistically.

What will your role be at Savera UK?

Jackie: My role at Savera UK as a student on placement will essentially be getting involved in what the support team do, including making referrals, attending meetings, providing support to clients and observing the team’s day-to-day work.

What are you looking forward to the most?

Jackie: I’m looking most forward to getting stuck in and being able to apply what we’ve been taught in university into practice. I’m looking forward to seeing how things operate and how to look at cases and work on and with them.

What do you hope to bring to the team during your placement?

Jackie: During my placement, I hope to bring my energy and personality to the team as well as some of my thoughts and input on things.

Taylor, how are you finding your placement at Savera UK now you are half-way through?

Taylor: I am glad that I got a placement as amazing at this, the staff at the organisation are phenomenal at their jobs. This given me an opportunity to learn about ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices. Speaking to my peers and seeing professionals working alongside Savera UK it’s clear not everyone is aware of HBA.

Before beginning your placement, what did you hope to learn?

Taylor: I like learning new things and developing my knowledge which is what I hoped to get from Savera UK. I have learnt so much already only being half way through my placement. I like to believe I am a quick learner when I have been shown what to do, which I hoped would help me during my time here. I didn’t have an expectation of what I was going to learn as I wasn’t aware of the work Savera UK did but I am pleased to say I have learnt so much.

What have you learnt already?

Taylor: While being at Savera UK I have been able to participate or complete a number of tasks and undertake training sessions which have developed my skills and knowledge about culture, sexual abuse and children’s sexual exploitation. I have referred clients for different types of support such as completing MARACs and referring clients to councillors. I have written supporting letters for clients to support asylum or to continue their studies. I have also been able to see professional strategy meetings and uploaded client information from police and other professional referrals.

What do you hope to learn as you continue your placement?

Jackie: I’m hoping to develop my skills as a social worker and increase my knowledge on things that I may not be too sure about.

Taylor: I feel this placement will allow me to spot signs of HBA and harmful practices while I get further in my career and educate others on my knowledge around HBA.

Thank you Jackie and Taylor! We’re so pleased to have you both as part of the Savera UK team.

International Women’s Day 2022: Help #BreakTheBias with Savera UK

Today (Tuesday 8th March 2022) is International Women’s Day and this year’s theme, #BreakTheBias, calls on people globally to strive for a “gender equal world” that is “free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination” and where “difference is valued and celebrated”.

This year’s theme resonates closely with Savera UK’s organisational mission. We are a leading charity tackling culturally-specific abuse such as ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and other harmful pratices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage. All of these issues are rooted in societies based on patriarchal ideologies and at their heart lies gender inequality.

Although anyone can be at risk of harmful practices – and Savera UK supports survivors of all genders – it is important to highlight on International Women’s Day the majority of people that we support are women. Those at risk of harmful practices face bias and discrimination in their own homes and communities and even in finding and accessing services, due to a lack of understanding around culturally-specific abuse, which often means the signs can be missed.

This International Women’s Day, the team at Savera UK pledges to continue to #BreakTheBias by raising awareness of the issues, challenging harmful stereotypes around these issues and supporting and advocating for survivors and those at risk of harmful practices.

We still have a long way to go to tackle gender inequality and as long as gender inequality exists, so too will gender-based violence and abuse. If we work together to eradicate this, more women will be free to exercise their human rights, and have the opportunity to thrive and achieve their full potential.

For more information on International Women’s Day visit: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/

To find out how you can get involved in Savera UK’s work, visit: https://www.saverauk.co.uk/what-can-you-do/get-involved/ 

Why do we not talk about 'honour'-based abuse web banner

‘Why do we not talk about ‘honour’-based abuse?’

Why do we not talk about 'honour'-based abuse web banner

In her first blog for Savera UK, an anonymous client explains her experience of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA), why we don’t talk about this kind of abuse enough, and why looking at the bigger picture, as well as the most extreme cases, is important in gaining a better understanding. 

When I hear the words ‘honour’-based abuse, I immediately picture a fierce-looking middle-aged man, wearing a dhoti (a form of sarong that outwardly resembles loose trousers) holding an axe, ready to strike this young woman who is cowering on the ground as death stares her in the face. This image stopped me, for decades, from accepting that ‘honour’-based abuse is a problem in my culture. In fact, it stopped me from recognising that I, too, was a victim.

I worried, and not without good reason, that this image perpetuated classist and racist stereotypes of brown men, and especially those hailing from rural areas. From that worry, I assumed, incorrectly this time, that to accept that ‘honour’-based abuse was a real problem in my culture would give credence to the idea that men from my culture are barbaric and uniquely predisposed to crimes passionels (crimes of passion), an idea that had gained so much currency in the first decades of this century. Especially when I joined the first wave of international students in the US since 2001, I felt it was necessary to bring nuance to this picture. The racist and classist stereotyping had far-reaching consequences for me, personally, as it pushed me into a corner from where I could not defend myself against the abuses of my own culture. But that is, perhaps, a story for another time.

Looking back at this experience, however, allows me to understand one reason why the larger British society is reluctant to talk about ‘honour’-based abuse. In the world where anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and even Nazi revivalism abound, it is difficult, and even risky, to acknowledge anything negative about a vulnerable group. I have seen simple appeals for donations for refugees devolve into a clash of civilisations narrative. In this context, it is easy to believe that there is more than just apathy that is holding back British society from acknowledging ‘honour’-based abuse.

Watch survivor stories from Savera UK clients (1200 x 150 px)

But my good intentions did not save me from being victimised. Nor will the society’s collective strategic tactfulness save the countless young people of all genders who are being forced into marriages or otherwise abused in the name of so-called ‘honour’.

As mentioned earlier, I was so fixated on the axe-wielding, paan­-chewing male abuser image, that I was blinded to my own abuse. Probably similar to how constructions of domestic abuse as only physical abuse keep a lot of victims from recognising the emotional, verbal or financial abuse that they are experiencing. Something that has worked in the latter case is expanding our understanding, at the societal level, that abuse can present in more subtle forms, such as coercive control. In the same way, we need to nuance our understanding of ‘honour’-based abuse, and to learn more about how it works.

In my case, I was not abused by my father, but by my mother. No one held a gun to my head, but life seemed unliveable, and I was constantly fantasising about using one on myself. I was not forced on to a plane and sent away. Instead, I was groomed from childhood into thinking that moving permanently away from my family would be dishonourable. In speaking of my experience, I do not wish to speak over the women who do face these very blatant threats to their lives, safety and freedom. Instead, I wish to point out that very often society hears about only the most extreme cases, and that those cases are merely the tip of the iceberg. ‘Honour’-based abuse, like all forms of abuse, works at multiple levels in many insidious ways.

To really protect those vulnerable to ‘honour’-based abuse, we need to understand the bigger picture within which this abuse takes place. We need to develop a better collective understanding of the mechanics of this form of abuse. And our allies in wider British society need to listen to us when we say that ‘honour’-based abuse is a problem.

If you are at risk of HBA or want advice, please contact the Savera UK helpline on 0800 107 0726, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Savera UK is closed from 5pm Thursday, 23rd December 2021 until Tuesday, 4th January 2022. For support during this period click here.