Forced marriage and 'honour' based violence seminar

Forced marriages and domestic abuse have surfaced as an urgent issue for debate by Parliamentarians and campaigners.

Hackney Asian Women’s Aid in partnership with Hackney Council are holding a free event focused on forced marriage and ‘honour’ based violence in just over two weeks time.

The event will celebrate the positive outcomes for women and children from the South/South East Asian continent who have experienced violence.

Local police and groups including the Met Police CPS, Forced Marriage Unit, Poppy Project, the Haven, Imkaan and Karma Nirvarna and specialist south Asian women’s services will hold debates and run workshops covering the various the issues.

Survivor stories as well as entertainment by south Asian female comedians will form part of the event, and the organisers say “an end of the day celebration will highlight the lives that have been saved, promoting the freedom to live free from violence”.   

The free event which includes a hot buffet lunch and afternoon tea takes place on Tuesday 8th March 2011 at Hackney Town Hall. Organisations are invited to bring along their publicity material to display.

Contact: Shabina Choudhry, Head of Domestic Violence Women’s Services, direct line: 020 8709 4483. Email:shabina.choudhry@gatewayhousing.org.uk.

website:gatewayhousing.