Wandsworth Council supported a Day of Memory last week in support of victims of honour-based killings. And it has launched a programme of information and support to help prevent young people becoming a victim of a forced marriage, female genital mutilation and other abuse.
The Day of Memory, organised by the charity Karma Nirvana, was held on July 14 as that would have been the 30th birthday of Shafilea Ahmed, a 17-year-old girl who was suffocated by her parents with a plastic bag after she refused an arranged marriage.
The event honours Shafilea’s memory, raises awareness of the issue and encourages victims of honour-related abuse to tell their stories. Last year it resulted in 58 phone calls from victims to the charity’s helpline in just one day.
The council is backing the campaign and is working with Karma Nirvana to highlight the event to the borough’s schools and remind them of the potential dangers to pupils of forced marriage.
The system for recording and monitoring cases of forced marriage and honour-based violence has also been improved – all cases are referred to a multi-agency team led by the council and tailored help is delivered to victims.
