Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, is set to join community leaders and residents for the fourth annual March to End Honour-Based Abuse on Saturday, 27th September. The event, organised by Savera UK as part of its 15th-anniversary celebrations, aims to raise public awareness of harmful practices and support survivors.
The march will be led by Nazir Afzal OBE, a nationally recognised legal expert and patron of the charity. Following the march, a free cultural festival will take place at St Luke's Bombed Out Church, celebrating diversity under the theme 'Culture is Beautiful: No Excuse for Abuse'.
Key Takeaways
- What: The fourth annual March to End Honour-Based Abuse (HBA), organised by Savera UK.
- When: Saturday, 27th September 2025.
- Who: Led by Nazir Afzal OBE and attended by Merseyside PCC Emily Spurrell.
- Why: To raise awareness of HBA and harmful practices, separating them from cultural traditions.
- Afterwards: A free family-friendly event, 'Culture at the Bombed Out Church', will feature live performances, art, and storytelling.
Community March to Challenge Harmful Practices
Savera UK's annual march returns to Merseyside for its fourth year, marking a significant event in the charity's 15-year history of combating 'honour'-based abuse. The demonstration provides a public platform to address serious issues that often remain hidden within communities.
The event's core message, 'Culture is Beautiful: No Excuse for Abuse', seeks to draw a clear line between cultural heritage and harmful practices. Organisers aim to educate the public that HBA is a violation of human rights and not a product of any specific culture, religion, or background.
Harmful practices addressed by the campaign include forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), conversion 'therapy', and spiritual abuse. The march serves as both a protest against these abuses and a celebration of community resilience and solidarity.
What is Honour-Based Abuse?
Honour-based abuse is a collection of practices used to control behaviour within families or social groups to protect perceived cultural and religious beliefs. It can affect individuals of any background, gender, age, or sexuality and is a fundamental violation of human rights.
Prominent Figures Lend Their Support
The event will feature several high-profile advocates for social justice. Leading the march is Nazir Afzal OBE, the former Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England and a patron of Savera UK. He is widely known for his work in tackling violence against women and girls.
Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, will also participate for the fourth consecutive year, reinforcing her commitment to tackling HBA in the region.
"I’m amazed by the growth of the Savera UK March year after year," said Emily Spurrell. "It’s not only a powerful platform to raise awareness of ‘honour’ based abuse and harmful practices, but also a celebration of community, collaboration and resilience. This event gives a voice to survivors and shines a light on the vital work of Savera UK."
The PCC highlighted that addressing HBA is a key priority in Merseyside's Violence Against Women and Girls Delivery Plan, which focuses on improving support services and removing barriers to reporting.
A Celebration of Culture at the Bombed Out Church
Following the march, the focus will shift to a positive celebration of culture at St Luke's Bombed Out Church. The free public event aims to showcase the richness of diverse traditions through a variety of performances and activities.
Performance Line-up
- Music: Performances by the Wavertree Community Gospel Choir, drumming from Katumba and Felix Ngindu, and music from Pagoda Arts.
- Dance: Showcases by Movema and Sattvika Arts & Cultural Centre.
- Choir: A performance from the Dee Sign BSL Choir.
- Youth: MD Productions and poetry readings from the Savera UK Youth Collective.
In addition to the main stage, interactive storytelling sessions will be delivered by Hend Badawy and Raneem Soliman from Hadi Badi, in partnership with the Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (LAAF).
Event Details
The 'Culture at the Bombed Out Church' event is free for all to attend and will include an art exhibition by Savera UK clients, a free henna station, and fundraising activities like a charity raffle to support the organisation's ongoing work.
A Collaborative Effort to End Abuse
The march and cultural festival are the result of extensive collaboration between Savera UK and its partners. Zonta UK, an international organisation working to end violence against women, has been a campaign partner since the march was first established in 2022.
Dianne Jeans, Area Director for Zonta UK and Ireland, confirmed members would be travelling from as far as London and Scotland to join the march. She stated, "Violence against women and girls remains the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violation in the world... The time for all of us to act – men and women together is now."
Nazir Afzal OBE praised Savera UK's approach to tackling these complex issues.
"Savera UK's unique approach of working in and with communities, rather than imposing external views, allows for more sustainable change and a deeper understanding of how to address these issues in culturally respectful and effective ways," he commented.
Afrah Qassim, the CEO and Founder of Savera UK, expressed her gratitude for the support from partners and the community. "As well as a celebration of culture, our event on 27th is a celebration of what partnership working, collaboration and working together with communities can achieve," she said.
Further Awareness and Training Events
Beyond the march, Savera UK is hosting additional events to continue its educational mission throughout the year.
- Modern Slavery and HBA Session: A free awareness session exploring the links between modern slavery and 'honour'-based abuse will be held on 16th October 2025.
- Professional Training Event: On Wednesday, 10th December 2025, a free online event titled 'HBA and Harmful Practices Happen Here – Responding As A Frontline Professional' will be available for professionals seeking to improve their response to these issues.
These initiatives are part of Savera UK's broader strategy to equip communities and professionals with the knowledge to identify and effectively respond to HBA and other harmful practices.