Savera UK: Day of Memory 2021

Discussing the Domestic Abuse Act, migrant women and ‘honour’-based abuse.

To mark the National Day of Memory for Victims of ‘Honour'-Based Abuse (HBA), which takes place on 14th July each year, Savera UK will be hosting an online panel event discussing ‘honour’-based abuse and support for migrant women, in the context of the Domestic Abuse Act, which became law in April 2021.

Speakers will include Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, Joanne Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, Afrah Qassim, CEO and founder of Savera UK, Saliha Rashid, Survivor and Campaigner and testimonies from survivors of HBA and harmful practices. The event will be chaired by Nazir Afzal OBE, Savera UK patron and former Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West.

We will be discussing the Domestic Abuse Act, how it addresses HBA, and if the protections and support it offers to meet the needs of migrant women at risk of these practices and open the floor to audience questions.

Meet the Speakers

Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales

Since her appointment to the role of designated Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales in September 2019, Nicole has begun energetically putting her 20 plus years of experience in domestic abuse policy and intervention to work, driving improvements to transform the response to domestic abuse in England and Wales. She is committed to championing victims and survivors of all ages, status, and backgrounds and shining a light on practices that fail them.

Nicole began her career at the Alabama State Coalition Against Domestic Violence in the United States. In 1999, she came to London as an early worker at ADVANCE, one of the first advocacy (now DVA service) services in the UK. In 2000, she began working at Standing Together Against Domestic Violence, expanding the coordinated community response efforts into health settings. Before becoming CEO of Standing Together in 2013, she held a number of senior leadership positions at highly respected organisations, including Special Projects Director at SafeLives, and Senior Operations Manager at Refuge.

Joanne Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool

At 19, Mayor Joanne was voted in as shop steward in a male-dominated workplace. Active in the Transport and General Workers Union, Mayor Joanne held several positions within the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) structures, Women’s and Young Members forums as well as a member of the TUC Race Relations Committee.

Mayor Joanne was elected as Liverpool’s first female Mayor in May 2021, after serving as a councillor for Princes Park ward for two years. She is proud to be the first black woman to be directly elected as a Mayor in the UK. She strongly believes Liverpool’s City Plan will help build a better, fairer city for all. She is committed to empowering communities and promoting equality. She is passionate about delivering the ‘All Voices’ pledge and ensuring that everyone is given a voice in their future. 

Nazir Afzal OBE, Savera UK patron and former Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England

Nazir Afzal OBE is the Patron of Savera UK and the Former Chief Prosecutor for North West England. He is an expert in de-radicalisation and a senior British lawyer who campaigns on issues around child sexual exploitation and violence against women.

Afrah Qassim, Founder and CEO of Savera UK

Afrah is the founder and CEO of Savera UK, a leading national organisation tackling the causes and effects of harmful practices including ‘honour’-based abuse, female genital mutilation and forced/child marriage. Afrah is also the Chair of the Liverpool Arab Arts Festival.

Saliha Rashid, Survivor and Campaigner

Saliha Rashid is a long-time campaigner, working to bring vital change for disabled survivors. After growing up feeling trapped and isolated within a community that operated an honour system based on protecting the family’s reputation, Saliha has now built herself a successful and independent life free from abuse.  Saliha says she shares her experience to make sure that the voices of disabled survivors are heard and wants to increase awareness of how domestic abuse and 'honour'-based violence affects disabled women as well as the additional barriers they face when escaping the abuse. 

Deputy Chief Constable Ian Critchley QPM

Ian Critchley QPM joined Merseyside Police on 23rd May 2016 from Lancashire Constabulary as Assistant Chief Constable and has responsibility for the Investigation, Intelligence and Serious & Organised crime portfolio. 

He is an accredited Senior Investigating Officer and PIP4 and has led a number of kidnap and homicide investigations.  As the Head of Public Protection for four years, he represented Lancashire Constabulary at Executive Level on three Safeguarding Children’s and Adults Boards and was chairperson of the MAPPA Strategic County Board. He is hugely passionate about developing services to protect children from abuse. He is married and have three daughters. He enjoys running and triathlons and has completed three marathons for the Children’s Society to raise money and awareness. In June 2016, he was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Savera UK aims to make events as accessible as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments to access this online event, then please contact us one week before the event so that actions can be taken to support you.